Comoros

Internet country code

.km

Internet hosts

5 (2006)

Internet users

20,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay 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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $27.6 million expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)

Currency (code)

Comoran franc (KMF)

Current account balance

$-17 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$232 million (2000 est.)

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)

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

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$402 million (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$441 million (2002 est.)

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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 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)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (1999 est.)

Industries

tourism, perfume distillation

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2005 est.)

Labor force

144,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20%

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

700 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003)

Population below poverty line

60% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.)

Area

total: 2,170 sq km land: 2,170 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

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 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

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% permanent crops: 23.32% other: 40.81% (2005)

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

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Moroni geographic coordinates: 11 41 S, 43 16 E 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: Union des Comores local short form: Comores

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

chief of mission: Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN Mahmoud M. ABOUD chancery: Mission to the US, 336 East 45th Street (2nd floor), New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006); head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006); 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 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 election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed DJAANFAMI 13.7%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

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

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 138,940 females age 18-49: 139,491 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 98,792 females age 18-49: 106,415 (2005 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3% (2005 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic groups

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 72.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 81.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 64.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.33 years male: 60 years female: 64.72 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.5% male: 63.6% female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 18.6 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

690,948 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

2.87% (2006 est.)

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: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.03 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

claims French-administered Mayotte

Airports

4 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

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

Merchant marine

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

Ports and terminals

Mayotte, Moutsamoudou

Roadways

total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1999)