1996 Edition

Description

green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; 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 (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992

Location

12 10 S, 44 15 E -- Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

2,170 sq km

total area

2,170 sq km

Climate

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Coastline

340 km

Environment

current issues

soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

natural hazards

cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Geographic coordinates

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geographic note

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

International disputes

claims French-administered Mayotte

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

35%

forest and woodland

16%

meadows and pastures

7%

other

34%

permanent crops

8%

Location

Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

negligible

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

highest point

Mount Kartala 2,360 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 48% (male 137,235; female 136,207) 15-64 years: 49% (male 138,447; female 142,058) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,242; female 8,048) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

45.82 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

10.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Infant mortality rate

75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

Life expectancy at birth

female

61.05 years (1996 est.)

male

56.43 years

total population

58.7 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

50.4%

male

64.2%

total population

57.3%

Nationality

adjective

Comoran

noun

Comoran(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

569,237 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.55% (1996 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)

note

there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu

Capital

Moroni

Constitution

7 June 1992

Data code

CN

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

(temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohamed Ahamada DJIMBANAOU (ambassador to the US and Canada)

telephone

[1] (212) 972-8010

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (since 16 March 1996) was elected by popular vote; election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001)

head of government

Prime Minister MASSOUNDI Tadjidine Ben Said (since March 1996) was appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (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) ruling coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; opposition: UDZIMA 8; other smaller

parties

10; two seats remained unfilled

Flag

green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; 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 (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), two members are appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, plus all the former presidents of the republic

Legal system

French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

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)

Political parties and leaders

Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of which are Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; 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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

independent republic

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros

Agriculture

vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Budget

expenditures

$92 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1992)

revenues

$83 million

Currency

1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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 subsistence 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; rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be reached in the late 1990s.

Electricity

capacity

16,000 kW

consumption per capita

27 kWh (1993)

production

17 million kWh

Exchange rates

Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 375.42 (January 1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)

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

Exports

$13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra

partners

US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)

External debt

$160 million (1992 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $370 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$700 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

0.9% (1994 est.)

Imports

$40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement, consumer goods

partners

France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate

-6.5% (1989 est.)

Industries

tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (1993 est.)

Labor force

140,000 (1982)

by occupation

agriculture 80%, government 3%

Unemployment rate

15.8% (1989)

Branches

Comoran Security Force

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

121,854

males fit for military service

72,873 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations

domestic

HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay

international

HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

Telephones

3,770 (1991 est.)

Televisions

200 (1991 est.) Defense

Airports

total

4

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

3 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

400 km

total

1,104 km

unpaved

704 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudu

Railways

0 km