2000 Edition

Background

Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. A subsequent attempt 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.

Area

land

2,170 sq km

total

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

highest point

Le Kartala 2,360 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 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, Wetlands 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%

forests and woodland

18%

other

30% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

10%

permanent pastures

7%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 123,891; female 123,241) 15-64 years: 54% (male 155,062; female 159,287) 65 years and over: 3% (male 8,072; female 8,847) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

40.05 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

9.59 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Infant mortality rate

86.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

62.28 years (2000 est.)

male

57.85 years

total population

60.03 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

50.4% (1995 est.)

male

64.2%

total population

57.3%

Nationality

adjective

Comoran

noun

Comoran(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

578,400 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

3.05% (2000 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

(temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

chief of mission

Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)

telephone

(212) 983-4712

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999

coup were

Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3%

election results

results of the last presidential election before the

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Bianrifi TARMIDI (since 2 December 1999)

note

President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; elections, in theory, should be held in the spring of 2000 but are likely to be dependent on the island of Anjouan remaining part of the federation

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, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic

Legal system

French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15

election results

Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1

elections

Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA)

note

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

seats

five from each island); 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 five-year terms); note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April 1999

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

revenues

$48 million

Currency

1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$197 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$28.1 million (1997)

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 met.

Electricity - consumption

14 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

15 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

86.67%

hydro

13.33%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 485.44 (January 2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995)

note

prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 CFs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, the CF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

Exports

$9.3 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $410 million (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

40%

industry

5%

services

55% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $725 (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$49.5 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities

rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment

Imports - partners

France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (1998)

Labor force

144,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, government 3%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

90,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use

5,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

0 (1998)

Televisions

1,000 (1997)

Airports

4 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

673 km

total

880 km

unpaved

207 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou

Railways

0 km

Military branches

Comoran Security Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 136,914 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 81,477 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

claims French-administered Mayotte; the islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede from Comoros

CONGO

COOK ISLANDS