1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 2,170 sq km land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Coastline
340 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kartala 2,360 m
Environment-current issues
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment-international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
12 10 S, 44 15 E
Geography-note
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 35% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 18% other: 30% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 43% (male 116,345; female 115,886) 15-64 years: 54% (male 146,655; female 150,612) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,644; female 8,386) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
40.52 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
9.52 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Infant mortality rate
84.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 60.36 years male: 57.95 years female: 62.84 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 64.2% female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
545,528 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
3.1% (1998 est.)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.48 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
three islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali) note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Constitution
20 October 1996
Country name
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
Data code
CN
Executive branch
chief of state: President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (since 16 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Nourdine BOURHANE (since 6 December 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; share of vote-64%
Flag 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
Government type
independent republic
Independence
6 July 1975 (from France)
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN) 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 telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members are appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic Political parties and leaders: Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim], party of the government; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ, Islamic party in opposition note: under a new constitution ratified in October 1996, a two party system was established; President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim called for all parties to dissolve and join him in creating the RND; the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
Legal system
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Legislative branch
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats; members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RND 39, RND candidate running as independent 1, FNJ 3
National capital
Moroni
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Budget
revenues: $55 million expenditures: $71 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (1995 est.)
Currency
1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Debt-external
$219 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economy-overview
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate 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 the bulk 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, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be maintained in the late 1990s.
Electricity-capacity
9,750 kW (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita
38 kWh (1996)
Electricity-production
31 million kWh (1996)
Exchange rates
Comoran francs (CF) per US$1-456.27 (January 1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994), 283.16 (1993) 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
total value: $11.4 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra partners: France 54%, Germany 18%, US 18%
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$400 million (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 40% industry: 14% services: 46% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$685 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
3.5% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $70 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment partners: France 60%, South Africa 10%, Kenya 5%, Singapore 4%
Industrial production growth rate
-6.5% (1989 est.)
Industries
tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Inflation rate-consumer price index
3.5% (1996 est.)
Labor force
total: 144,500 (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios
78,000 (1993 est.)
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
4,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations
0
Televisions
200 (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate
20% (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
4 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudu
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Comoran Security Force
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$3 million (1994 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
NA%
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 129,095 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 76,991 (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
claims French-administered Mayotte