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COMOROS
OFFICIAL NAME
Republic of the Comoros
CAPITAL CITY
Moroni, population 24,000
Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
2,170 sq km
land area:
2,170 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims French-administered Mayotte
Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
35%
permanent crops:
8%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
16%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
natural hazards:
cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People
Population:
569,237 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
48% (male 137,235; female 136,207)
15-64 years:
49% (male 138,447; female 142,058)
65 years and over:
3% (male 7,242; female 8,048) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.55% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
45.82 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
10.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
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:
0.9 male(s)/female
all ages:
0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
58.7 years
male:
56.43 years
female:
61.05 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Comoran(s)
adjective:
Comoran
Ethnic divisions:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population:
57.3%
male:
64.2%
female:
50.4%
Government
Name of country:
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
Type of government:
independent republic
Capital:
Moroni
Administrative divisions:
three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note:
there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
7 June 1992
Legal system:
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (since 16 March 1996) was elected by popular vote; election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001)
head of government:
Prime Minister MASSOUNDI Tadjidine Ben Said (since March 1996) was appointed by the president
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale):
elections last held 12-20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) ruling coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; opposition: UDZIMA 8; other smaller parties: 10; two seats remained unfilled
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), two members are appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, plus all the former presidents of the republic
Political parties and leaders:
Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of which are Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC), Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General)
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Mohamed Ahamada DJIMBANAOU (ambassador to the US and Canada)
chancery:
(temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
[1] (212) 972-8010
FAX:
[1] (212) 983-4712
US diplomatic representation:
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Economy
Economic overview:
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor 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 90% 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, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be reached in the late 1990s.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $370 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate:
0.9% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita:
$700 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (1993 est.)
Labor force:
140,000 (1982)
by occupation:
agriculture 80%, government 3%
Unemployment rate:
15.8% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
$83 million
expenditures:
$92 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1992)
Industries:
tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:
-6.5% (1989 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
16,000 kW
production:
17 million kWh
consumption per capita:
27 kWh (1993)
Agriculture:
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports:
$13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
partners:
US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)
Imports:
$40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement, consumer goods
partners:
France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)
External debt:
$160 million (1992 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient:
ODA, $NA
Currency:
1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 375.42 (January 1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)
note:
beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75 per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Transportation
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total:
1,104 km
paved:
400 km
unpaved:
704 km (1988 est.)
Ports:
Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudu
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
total:
4
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m:
3 (1995 est.)
Communications
Telephones:
3,770 (1991 est.)
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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
0
Televisions:
200 (1991 est.)
Defense
Branches:
Comoran Security Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49:
121,854
males fit for military service:
72,873 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
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