 Definition  Field Listing  Rank
Order
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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 was sworn in on 26 May 2002.
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates: |
12 10 S, 44
15 E |
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Map references: |
Africa
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Area: |
total:
2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative: |
slightly
more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries: |
0 km |
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Coastline: |
340 km
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic
zone: 200 nm |
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Climate: |
tropical
marine; rainy season (November to May) |
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Terrain: |
volcanic
islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest
point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala
2,360 m |
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Natural resources: |
NEGL |
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Land use: |
arable
land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2001) |
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Irrigated land: |
NA sq km
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Natural hazards: |
cyclones
possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on
Grand Comore is an active volcano |
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Environment - current issues: |
soil
degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes
without proper terracing; deforestation |
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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 |
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Geography - note: |
important
location at northern end of Mozambique Channel Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Population: |
651,901 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14
years: 42.8% (male 140,083; female 139,245)
15-64
years: 54.2% (male 174,216; female 179,050)
65 years and
over: 3% (male 9,136; female 10,171) (2004 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.9 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate: |
2.94% (2004
est.) |
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Birth rate: |
38
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate: |
8.63
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total:
77.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 85.9 deaths/1,000
live births
female: 68.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 61.57 years
male: 59.29 years
female: 63.91 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
5.15 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.12% (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
NA |
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Nationality: |
noun:
Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran |
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Ethnic groups: |
Antalote,
Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava |
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Religions: |
Sunni Muslim
98%, Roman Catholic 2% |
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Languages: |
Arabic
(official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and
Arabic) |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Country name: |
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long
form: Union des Comores
local short form: Comores
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Government type: |
independent
republic |
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Capital: |
Moroni
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Administrative divisions: |
3 islands;
Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note
- there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni,
and Moutsamoudou |
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Independence: |
6 July 1975
(from France) |
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National holiday: |
Independence
Day, 6 July (1975) |
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Constitution: |
23 December
2001
note: a Transitional National Unity Government
(GUNT) was formed on 20 January 2002 following the passing of the
new constitution; the GUNT governed until the presidential elections
on 14 April 2002 |
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Legal system: |
French and
Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of
age; universal |
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Executive branch: |
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
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
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the president
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 NA 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
election results: President AZALI Assoumani elected
president with 75% of the vote |
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Legislative branch: |
unicameral
Assembly of the Union (30 seats; half the deputies are selected by
the individual islands' local assemblies and the other half by
universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years); note - elections
for the former legislature, the Federal Assembly (dissolved in 1999)
were held on 1 and 8 December 1996; the next elections for the
Assembly of the Union were scheduled to be held on 18 and 25 April
2004 |
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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)
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
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International organization participation: |
ACCT, ACP,
AfDB, AMF, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS,
NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WMO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US and
Canada and permanent representative to the UN)
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
telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711
FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
the US does
not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is
accredited to Comoros |
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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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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, to privatize commercial and industrial
enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to
promote tourism, and to 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. |
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GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $441 million (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
2% (2002
est.) |
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GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $700 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
60% (2002
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
3.5% (2001
est.) |
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Labor force: |
144,500 (1996
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture
80% |
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Unemployment rate: |
20% (1996
est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: NA,
including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products: |
vanilla,
cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava
(tapioca) |
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Industries: |
tourism,
perfume distillation |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
-2% (1999
est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
21.27 million
kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption: |
19.78 million
kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2001)
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Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption: |
700 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports: |
NA (2001)
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Oil - imports: |
NA (2001)
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Exports: |
$28 million
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
vanilla,
ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra |
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Exports - partners: |
France
45.5%, Germany 18.2%, US 12.1%, Madagascar 6.1% (2003 est.) |
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Imports: |
$88 million
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
rice and
other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement,
transport equipment |
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Imports - partners: |
France
32.7%, Japan 14.2%, South Africa 10.6%, Kenya 5.3%, UAE 5.3%,
Thailand 4.4% (2003 est.) |
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Debt - external: |
$232 million
(2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
$10 million
(2001 est.) |
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Currency: |
Comoran
franc (KMF) |
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Currency code: |
KMF |
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Exchange rates: |
Comoran
francs (KMF) per US dollar - 435.9 (2003), 522.741 (2002), 549.779
(2001), 533.982 (2000), 461.775 (1999)
note: prior to
January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75
Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, the Comoran
franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per
euro |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar
year Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Highways: |
total:
880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1999
est) |
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Ports and harbors: |
Fomboni,
Moroni, Moutsamoudou |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 452,801 GRT/681,343
DWT
by type: bulk 9, cargo 31, chemical tanker 1,
combination bulk 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 4, petroleum
tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1,
short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: Bahamas 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Greece 7,
Honduras 1, India 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 7, Liberia 1, Marshall Islands
3, Pakistan 4, Panama 2, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 4, Turkey 21, United Kingdom 1, United
States 1, Yemen 2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports: |
4 (2003
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to
1,523 m: 3 (2003 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Disputes - international: |
claims
French-administered Mayotte |
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