1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali) note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Agriculture
accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export - vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra; principal food crops - coconuts, bananas, cassava; world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla; large net food importer
Airports
total: 4 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3
Area
total area: 2,170 sq km land area: 2,170 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Birth rate
46.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Comoran Defense Force (FDC)
Budget
revenues: $96 million expenditures: $88 million, including capital expenditures of $33 million (1991 est.)
Capital
Moroni
Climate
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Coastline
340 km
Constitution
7 June 1992
Currency
1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Death rate
10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP
Digraph
CN
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN chancery: (temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 972-8010
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $435 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $18 million
Electricity
capacity: 16,000 kW production: 25 million kWh consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1991)
Environment
current issues: soil degradation and erosion; deforestation natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Ethnic divisions
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Exchange rates
Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 444.03 (January 1994), 254.57 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75 per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed since 1948
Executive branch
chief of state:: President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); election last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results - Said Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45% head of government:: Prime Minister Mohamed Abdou MADI (since 6 January 1994) appointed by President DJOHAR 6 January 1994 (DJOHAR has appointed 14 prime ministers in the last three years) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Exports
$21 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang partners: US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)
External debt
$160 million (1992 est.)
FAX
(212) 983-4712
Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale)
elections last held 12-20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag
green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)
Highways
total: 750 km paved: bituminous 210 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 540 km
Imports
$60 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods partners: Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)
Independence
6 July 1975 (from France)
Industrial production
growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP
Industries
perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Infant mortality rate
79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4% (1991 est.)
International disputes
claims French-administered Mayotte
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Labor force
140,000 (1982) by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3% note: 51% of population of working age (1985)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 35% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 34%
Languages
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Legal system
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 57.81 years male: 55.63 years female: 60.06 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 48% male: 56% female: 40%
Location
Southeastern Africa, in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 112,918; fit for military service 67,522
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Names
conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores local short form: Comores
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $360 million (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$700 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
5% (1992 est.)
Nationality
noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran
Natural resources
negligible
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Note
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Overview
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a low level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. During 1982-86 the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 5.3%, but its contribution to GDP is small. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of 1.5% during 1985-90 has led to large budget deficits, declining incomes, and balance-of-payments difficulties. Estimates for 1992 show a moderate increase in the growth rate based on increased exports, tourism, and government investment outlays.
Political parties and leaders
over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of which are; Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC), Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General)
Population
530,136 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
3.55% (1994 est.)
Ports
Mutsamudu, Moroni
Religions
Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Ruling Coalition
RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; Opposition: UDZIMA 8, other smaller parties 10; 2 seats remained unfilled note: opposition is boycotting the National Assembly until the government promises to investigate fraud in the last election
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telecommunications
sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion; over 1,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV
Terrain
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Total fertility rate
6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
independent republic
Unemployment rate
over 15.9% (1989)
US diplomatic representation
none; post closed in September 1993