1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
Background
Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from France in 1975. Most recently, in August 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. An attempt in September 1997 by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation.
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: Le 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); Le 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 120,397; female 119,945) 15-64 years: 54% (male 150,851; female 154,990) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,878; female 8,662) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
40.29 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
9.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Infant mortality rate
81.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 60.85 years male: 58.39 years female: 63.38 years (1999 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 (1999 est.)
Population
562,723 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
3.11% (1999 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 total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.43 children born/woman (1999 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 Moutsamoudou
Capital
Moroni
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: Interim President TADJIDDINE Ben Said Massounde (since 6 November 1998); note--President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim died in office 6 November 1998 and was succeeded by Interim President MASSOUNDE head of government: Prime Minister Abbas DJOUSSOUF (since 22 November 1998) 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); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote--64% note: the Comoran constitution stipulates that upon the death of the president, a new president is to be elected within 90 days; however, Interim President TADJIDDINE has stated that a new election cannot be held until Anjouan is reunited with the rest of the country
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, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate 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 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 NA] note: under a new constitution ratified in October 1996, a two-party system was established; former 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: Federal Assembly--last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA) election results: Federal Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RND 39, RND candidate running as independent 1, FNJ 3
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: $48 million expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Currency
1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Debt--external
$219 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$43.3 million (1995)
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.
Electricity--consumption
15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Comoran francs (CF) per US$1--420.01 (December 1998), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994)
Exports
$11.4 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities
vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Exports--partners
France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1996)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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?$700 (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3.5% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$70 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports--partners
France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1996)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.5% (1997)
Labor force
144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 80%, government 3%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
20% (1996 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios
81,000 (1994)
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 (1998)
Televisions
200 (1994
Transportation
Airports
4 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
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: 132,969 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 79,224 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
claims French-administered Mayotte; the islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede from Comoros