2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.8% (male 144,075/female 143,175) 15-64 years: 54.2% (male 179,541/female 184,488) 65 years and over: 3% (male 9,407/female 10,561) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.) Military Comoros

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

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. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May of 2002. Geography Comoros

Birth rate

37.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

NA, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$27.6 million

Capital

Moroni

Climate

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Coastline

340 km

Constitution

23 December 2001

Country name

conventional long form

Union of the Comoros

conventional short form

Comoros

local long form

Union des Comores

local short form

Comores

Currency (code)

Comoran franc (KMF)

Currency code

KMF

Death rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$232 million (2000 est.)

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 Union of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

chief of mission

Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)

FAX

[1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699

telephone

[1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711

Disputes - international

claims French-administered Mayotte This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Economic aid - recipient

$10 million (2001 est.)

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, 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 - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

Electricity - consumption

22.17 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

23.84 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

90.6%

hydro

9.4%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Exchange rates

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003), 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001), 533.98 (2000) note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government

election results

President AZALI Assoumani elected president with 75% of the vote

elections

as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president; note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworn into office in May 2002

head of government

President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government

Exports

$28 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 43.8%, France 18.6%, Singapore 16.5%, Turkey 4.8%, Germany 4.5% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Comoros

Flag description

four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and 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 crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam Economy Comoros

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

40%

industry

4%

services

56% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2002 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$441 million (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography - note

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel People Comoros

Government type

independent republic

Highways

paved

673 km

total

880 km

unpaved

207 km (1999 est)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$88 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 23.5%, South Africa 11.1%, Kenya 7.5%, UAE 7.2%, Italy 4.9%, Pakistan 4.7%, Mauritius 4.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2004)

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (1999 est.)

Industries

tourism, perfume distillation

Infant mortality rate

female

66.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

83.48 deaths/1,000 live births

total

74.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO

Internet country code

.km

Internet hosts

11 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

5,000 (2003) Transportation Comoros

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

144,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

35.87%

other

40.81% (2001)

permanent crops

23.32%

Languages

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

Legal system

French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the 18 by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years);

election results

NA

elections

last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.33 years (2005 est.)

male

59.65 years

total population

61.96 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

49.3% (2003 est.) Government Comoros

male

63.6%

total population

56.5%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 138,940 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 98,792 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

18.87 years (2005 est.)

male

18.35 years

total

18.61 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 9, cargo 55, chemical tanker 1, container 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

35 (Bulgaria 1, Germany 1, Greece 7, India 1, Jordan 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 3, Nigeria 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Philippines 1, Russia 2, Syria 3, Turkey 6, Ukraine 4, United Kingdom 1) (2005)

total

79 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 452,801 GRT/681,343 DWT

Military branches

Comoran Security Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$11.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3% (2004) Transnational Issues Comoros

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Comoran

noun

Comoran(s)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

NEGL

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. Abdourazak ABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of 12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed RACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [Mahamoud MRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatist movement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et la Democratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

671,247 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

60% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.91% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Mayotte, Moutsamoudou

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

90,000 (1997)

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: 0.89 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay

general assessment

sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations

international

country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

Telephones - main lines in use

13,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,000 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

1,000 (1997)

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Total fertility rate

5.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.)