Comoros

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

12.10° S, 44.15° E

total: 2,235 sq km

land: 2,235 sq km

water: 0 sq km

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

340 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

mean elevation:

elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Karthala 2,360 m

fish

agricultural land: 84.4%

arable land 46.7%; permanent crops 29.6%; permanent pasture 8.1%

forest: 1.4%

other: 14.2% (2011 est.)

1.3 sq km (2012)

1.2 cu km (2011)

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

per capita: 16.86 cu m/yr (1999)

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

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

soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

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

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

noun: Comoran(s)

adjective: Comoran

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

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

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

780,971 (July 2015 est.)

0-14 years: 40.77% (male 158,654/female 159,722)

15-24 years: 18.98% (male 71,694/female 76,500)

25-54 years: 32.25% (male 119,595/female 132,299)

55-64 years: 4.17% (male 14,414/female 18,135)

65 years and over: 3.84% (male 14,018/female 15,940) (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 75.6%

youth dependency ratio: 70.7%

elderly dependency ratio: 4.9%

potential support ratio: 20.4% (2015 est.)

total: 19.4 years

male: 18.7 years

female: 20 years (2015 est.)

1.77% (2015 est.)

27.84 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

7.57 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

-2.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

urban population: 28.3% of total population (2015)

rate of urbanization: 2.67% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

MORONI (capital) 56,000 (2014)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

24.6

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)

335 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

total: 63.55 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 74.18 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 52.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

total population: 63.85 years

male: 61.57 years

female: 66.19 years (2015 est.)

3.6 children born/woman (2015 est.)

19.4% (2012)

5.8% of GDP (2013)

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2006)

improved:

urban: 92.6% of population

rural: 89.1% of population

total: 90.1% of population

unimproved:

urban: 7.4% of population

rural: 10.9% of population

total: 9.9% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 48.3% of population

rural: 30.9% of population

total: 35.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 51.7% of population

rural: 69.1% of population

total: 35.8% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

5.8% (2014)

16.9% (2012)

7.6% of GDP (2008)

total: 11 years

male: NA

female: NA (2013)

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)

etymology: name derives from the Arabic designation "Juzur al Qamar" meaning "Islands of the Moon"

republic

name: Moroni

geographic coordinates: 11.42° S, 43.14° E

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

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

6 July 1975 (from France)

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

previous 1996; latest ratified 23 December 2001; amended 2009, 2014 (2015)

mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Ikililou DHOININE (since 26 May 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Ikililou DHOININE (since 26 May 2011)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments: presidency rotates every 4 years among the elected presidents of the Union's 3 main islands; Union president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed (first round by the island voters only; second round by simple majority vote of all island voters; election last held on 7 November and 26 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

election results: Ikililou DHOININE elected president; percent of vote in second round - Ikililou DHOININE 61.1%, Mohamed Said FAZUL 32.7%, Abdou DJABIR 6.2%

description: unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 24 members elected by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed and 9 members indirectly selected by island assemblies; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 25 January and 22 February 2015 (next to be held in 2020)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPDC 8, PJ 7, RDC 2, CRC 2, RADHI 1, PEC 1, independents 3; note - in addition 9 seats will be filled by nominations from the 3 island assemblies

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 7 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 8 members)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges - 2 selected by the president of the Union, 2 by the Assembly of the Union, and 1 each by the 3 island councils; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members appointed - 1 by the president, 1 each by the 3 vice presidents, 1 by the Assembly, and 1 each by the island executives; all members serve 6-year renewable terms

subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de premiere instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts

Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assoumani]

Democratic Rally of the Comoros or RDC [Mouigni BARAKA]

Juwa Party or PJ [Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI]

Party for the Comorian Agreement (Partie Pour l'Entente Commorienne) or PEC [Fahmi Said IBRAHIM]

Rally for an Alternative of Harmonious and Integrated Development or RADHI [Abdou SOEFO]

Rally with a Development Intiiative for Enlightened Youth or RIDJA [Said Larifou]

Union for the Development of the Comoros or UPDC [Mohamed HALIFA]

Federation Comorienne des Consomateurs or FCC [Mohamed Said Abdallah MCHANGANA]

Mouvement des Entreprises comorienne or MODEC [Faharate HOUSSEIN]

Union des Chambres de Commerce et de l'Industrie et de l'Agriculture or UCCIA [Fahmy THABIT]

Confederation des Travailleurs Comoriens or CTC

other: environmentalists

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

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, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - department of France, but claimed by Comoros)

note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

four stars and crescent; national colors: green, white

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

lyrics/music: Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH

note: adopted 1978

One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that are hampered by 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. Currently, authorities are negotiating with the IMF for triennial program assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, accounts for 50% of 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 and extreme weather. Despite agriculture’s importance to the economy, the country imports roughly 70% of its food; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is racked by internal political disputes - is struggling to provide basic services, upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. Recurring political instability, sometimes initiated from outside the country, has inhibited growth. Remittances from about 200,000 Comoran diaspora contribute about 25% of the country’s GDP. In December 2012, IMF and the World Bank's International Development Association supported $176 million in debt relief for Comoros, resulting in a 59% reduction of its future external debt service over a period of 40 years. In late 2013, a US-based investment company invested $200 million in a project to explore for hydrocarbons in Comoran territorial waters, the largest financial investment in the country’s history.

$1.214 billion (2015 est.)

$1.202 billion (2014 est.)

$1.179 billion (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

$589 million (2015 est.)

1% (2015 est.)

2% (2014 est.)

3.5% (2013 est.)

$1,600 (2015 est.)

$1,500 (2014 est.)

$1,500 (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

9.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

11.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

11.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

household consumption: 105.7%

government consumption: 29.6%

investment in fixed capital: -1.2%

investment in inventories: 9.2%

exports of goods and services: 20.8%

imports of goods and services: -64.1%

(2015 est.)

agriculture: 49.7%

industry: 12.7%

services: 37.6% (2015 est.)

vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc)

fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

2.5% (2015 est.)

245,200 (2013 est.)

agriculture: 80%

industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)

20% (1996 est.)

60% (2002 est.)

lowest 10%: 0.9%

highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)

revenues: $129.9 million

expenditures: $147.3 million (2015 est.)

22.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

-3% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

1.6% (2015 est.)

1.4% (2014 est.)

1.93% (31 December 2010)

2.21% (31 December 2009)

11% (31 December 2015 est.)

10.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

$114.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$133.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$269.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$251.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

$144.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$166.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

-$93 million (2015 est.)

-$80 million (2014 est.)

$18.6 million (2015 est.)

$18.3 million (2014 est.)

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves

India 28.4%, Singapore 13.2%, France 13%, Germany 12.9%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%, US 4.9%, Netherlands 4.6% (2014)

$188.2 million (2015 est.)

$216 million (2014 est.)

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

China 14.6%, Pakistan 13.9%, France 13.6%, Algeria 11.8%, UAE 9.5%, India 5.9% (2014)

$142 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$146.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar -

447.3 (2015 est.)

370.81 (2014 est.)

370.81 (2013 est.)

382.9 (2012 est.)

353.9 (2011 est.)

43 million kWh (2012 est.)

39.99 million kWh (2012 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

22,000 kW (2012 est.)

95.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

4.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

1,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

1,009 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

157,400 Mt (2012 est.)

total subscriptions: 23,500

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.)

total: 383,000

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2014 est.)

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

domestic: fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 30 per 100 persons

international: country code - 269; landing point for the EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting East Africa with Europe and North America; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion (2010)

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)

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

NA

.km

14 (2012)

total: 50,200

percent of population: 6.6% (2014 est.)

4 (2013)

total: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)

total: 880 km

paved: 673 km

unpaved: 207 km (2002)

total: 149

by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 83, carrier 5, chemical tanker 5, container 2, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 8

foreign-owned: 73 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 4, China 1, Cyprus 2, Greece 4, Kenya 2, Kuwait 1, Latvia 2, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 5, Russia 12, Syria 5, Turkey 8, UAE 8, UK 1, Ukraine 10, US 2) (2010)

major seaport(s): Moroni, Mutsamudu

National Army for Development (l'Armee Nationale de Developpement, AND): Comoran Security Force (also called Comoran Defense Force (Force Comorienne de Defense, FCD), includes Gendarmerie), Comoran Coast Guard, Comoran Federal Police (2015)

18 years of age for 2-year voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (2015)

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 assisted the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001