2010 Edition

Background

Comoros has endured more than 20 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 in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI was elected to office. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.

Area

land

2,235 sq km

total

2,235 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

Karthala 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

13 cu m/yr (1999)

total

0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%)

Geographic coordinates

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography - note

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

35.87%

other

40.81% (2005)

permanent crops

23.32%

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore

volcanism

Karthala (elev. 2,361 m, 7,746 ft) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Total renewable water resources

1.2 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 159,282/female 158,073) 15-64 years: 54.8% (male 203,533/female 208,591) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,474/female 12,485) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

34.71 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

56.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

72.41 deaths/1,000 live births

total

64.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.32 years (2010 est.)

male

61.41 years

total population

63.83 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

49.3% (2003 est.)

male

63.6%

total population

56.5%

Median age

female

19.2 years (2010 est.)

male

18.6 years

total

18.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Comoran

noun

Comoran(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

773,407 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.731% (2010 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2004)

male

12 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.78 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

28% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*

Capital

geographic coordinates

11 42 S, 43 14 E

name

Moroni

time difference

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

Constitution

23 December 2001

Country name

conventional long form

Union of the Comoros

conventional short form

Comoros

local long form

Udzima wa Komori (Comorian); Union des Comores (French); Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic)

local short form

Komori (Comorian); Comores (French); Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)

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, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Representative to the UN and Ambassador to the US Mohamed TOIHIRI

telephone

[1] (212) 750-1637

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 on 14 May 2006 (next to be held on 7 November 2010)

head of government

President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)

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, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros) note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Government type

republic

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

International organization participation

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

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)

Legal system

French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - pro-union coalition 19, autonomous coalition 4, independents 1; note - 9 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies

elections

last held on 6 and 20 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH note: adopted 1978

name

"Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; 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

other

environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

2.21% (31 December 2009) 5.36% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.5% (31 December 2009 est.) 10.5% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$8 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$232 million (2000 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. Export income is heavily reliant on the three main crops of vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang and Comoros' export earnings are easily disrupted by disasters such as fires. 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 - lacks a comprehensive strategy to attract foreign investment and 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. Political problems have inhibited growth, which has averaged only about 1% in 2006-09. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. In September 2009 the IMF approved Comoros for a three-year $21 million loan. The IMF gave generally positive reports of the country's program performance as of October 2010. The African Development Bank approved a $34.6 million debt-relief package loan for Comoros in September 2010, and Comoros will attempt to qualifry for debt relief in 2012 under the IMF and World Bank's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.

Electricity - consumption

20.46 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

22 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007), 391.8 (2006), 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003) note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

Exports

$32 million (2006)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Turkey 25.2%, France 20.44%, Singapore 17.44%, Algeria 8.02%, Italy 6.09%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

40%

industry

4%

services

56% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,000 (2010 est.) $1,000 (2009 est.) $1,000 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2010 est.) 1.8% (2009 est.) 1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$557 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$789.4 million (2010 est.) $776.2 million (2009 est.) $762.5 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)

Imports

$143 million (2006)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 15.5%, China 14.66%, India 10.55%, UAE 7.88%, Pakistan 5.69%, Kenya 4.51% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2007 est.)

Labor force

268,500 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

80%

industry and services

20% (1996 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

766 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

60% (2002 est.)

Stock of broad money

$168.6 million (31 December 2009) $143.7 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$79.75 million (31 December 2008 est.) $60.57 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$104.7 million (31 December 2009) $98.36 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.)

Broadcast media

national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by Anjouan regional government; national state-owned radio; regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station; a few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV (2007)

Internet country code

.km

Internet hosts

14 (2010)

Internet users

24,300 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 15 per 100 persons

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

25,400 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

100,000 (2009)

Airports

4 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 19, cargo 102, carrier 5, chemical tanker 6, container 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 12

foreign-owned

98 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 8, China 1, Cyprus 2, Greece 3, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 3, Lithuania 3, Monaco 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 2, Pakistan 3, Russia 21, Syria 6, Turkey 16, UAE 11, UK 1, Ukraine 10, US 2) (2010)

total

177

Ports and terminals

Mayotte, Mutsamudu

Roadways

paved

673 km

total

880 km

unpaved

207 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 178,670 females age 16-49: 177,811 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 130,064 females age 16-49: 140,600 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

8,498 (2010 est.)

male

8,519

Military branches

Army of National Development (AND)

Comoran Security Force, Comoran Coast Guard, Comoran Federal Police (2010)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for 2-year voluntary military service; no conscription; women first inducted into the Army in 2004 (2010)

Disputes - international

claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces are called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001 page last updated on January 10, 2011 ======================================================================