2006 Edition

Administrative divisions

3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.7% (male 148,009/female 147,038) 15-64 years: 54.3% (male 185,107/female 190,139) 65 years and over: 3% (male 9,672/female 10,983) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

4 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

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

Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared 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 2002. Geography Comoros

Birth rate

36.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$27.6 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

11 41 S, 43 16 E

name

Moroni

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Coastline

340 km

Comoran Defense Force

Comoran Security Force (includes Gendarmerie and Army), Comoran Federal Police (2006)

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

Current account balance

$-17 million (2005 est.)

Death rate

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$232 million (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

Mission to the US, 336 East 45th Street (2nd floor), New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN Mahmoud M. ABOUD

telephone

[1] (212) 750-1637

Disputes - international

claims French-administered Mayotte This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

Economic aid - recipient

$24 million (2003 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

16.74 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

18 million kWh (2003)

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 - 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003), 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001)

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 Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006);

election results

Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed DJAANFAMI 13.7%

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 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president; note - the post of Prime Minister has been vacant since May 2002

head of government

President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006);

Exports

$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra

Exports - partners

France 27.7%, Singapore 16.8%, Japan 15.1%, Germany 13.7%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 5.1% (2005)

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 (PPP)

$600 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$402 million (2005 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

republic

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 20.5%, South Africa 11.7%, UAE 9.1%, Kenya 8%, Pakistan 5%, Mauritius 4.4%, Belgium 4.3%, India 4.1% (2005)

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (1999 est.)

Industries

tourism, perfume distillation

Infant mortality rate

female

64.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

81.27 deaths/1,000 live births

total

72.85 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.km

Internet hosts

5 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

20,000 (2005) Transportation Comoros

Irrigated land

NA

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%

industry and services

20%

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

35.87%

other

40.81% (2005)

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

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies

elections

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.72 years (2006 est.)

male

60 years

total population

62.33 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

females age 18-49

139,491 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

138,940

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

106,415 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

98,792

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

18.9 years (2006 est.)

male

18.4 years

total

18.6 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 10, cargo 85, chemical tanker 1, container 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

72 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 1, Greece 10, India 1, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1, Pakistan 2, Philippines 1, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Syria 4, Turkey 11, UAE 6, Ukraine 14, US 2) (2006)

total

121 ships (1000 GRT or over) 564,882 GRT/801,238 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$12.87 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Comoros

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Comoran

noun

Comoran(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

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 (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

700 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp of the Autonomous Islands (a coalition of parties organized by the island Presidents in opposition to the Union President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

690,948 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

60% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.87% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Mayotte, Moutsamoudou Military Comoros

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

90,000 (1997)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Roadways

paved

673 km

total

880 km

unpaved

207 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

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

16,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

16,100 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

1,000 (1997)

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Total fertility rate

5.03 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.)