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The archipelago of the Comoros in the Indian Ocean, composed of the islands of Mayotte, Anjouan, Moheli, and Grand Comore declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. France did not recognize the independence of Mayotte, which remains under French administration. Since independence, Comoros has endured political instability through realized and attempted coups. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI Assoumani seized power of the entire government in a bloodless coup; he initiated the 2000 Fomboni Accords, a power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its local government. AZALI won the 2002 federal presidential election as president from Grand Comore island, and each island in the archipelago elected its president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI was elected to office as president from Anjouan. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of Comoros, refusing to step down 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 to Anjouan, but in March 2008 the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In May 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair.
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Geography :: COMOROS
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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
Africa
total: 2,235 sq km
land: 2,235 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world:
180slightly 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
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 NA (2003)
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
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People and Society :: COMOROS
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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.)
country comparison to the world:
1640-14 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.)
population pyramid:
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.)
country comparison to the world:
6727.84 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
457.57 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
111-2.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
175urban 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.)
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.)
country comparison to the world:
19total population: 63.85 years
male: 61.57 years
female: 66.19 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1823.6 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
4319.4% (2012)
5.8% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world:
1532.2 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)
country comparison to the world:
16416.9% (2012)
country comparison to the world:
397.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world:
15definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.8%
male: 81.8%
female: 73.7% (2015 est.)
total: 11 years
male: NA
female: NA (2013)
total number: 39,550
percentage: 27% (2000 est.)
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Government :: COMOROS
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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)
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)
several previous; latest adopted 23 December 2001; amended 2009, last in 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
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 - 22 February 2015 (next to be held in 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPDC 8, Juwa 7, Democratic Rally of the Comoros 2, Convention for the Revival of the Comoros 2, RADHI 1, Party for the Comorian Agreement 1, independents 3; note - in addition 9 seats will be filled by nominations from the three 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 [Mouigni MARAKA]
Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition)
Juwa [Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI]
National Alliance for the Comoros or ANC [Mahmoud ALI]
Orange Party [Niganned "Kiki" DAOUDI]
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
Rassemblement Democratique des Comores [Mougini Baraka Said SOILIHI]
Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Rally with a Deveopment Initive with Warned Youth or RIDJA [Said Larifou]
Union for the Development of the Comoros or UPDC [Ikililou DHOININE]
Union Nationale pour la Democratie aux Comores or UNDC [Hassani HARUNA]
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)
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed SOILIH (since 18 November 2014)
chancery: Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637
FAX: [1] (212) 750-1657
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
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
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Economy :: COMOROS
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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.
$1.202 billion (2014 est.)
$1.163 billion (2013 est.)
$1.124 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
201$717 million (2014 est.)
3.3% (2014 est.)
3.5% (2013 est.)
3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
74$1,500 (2014 est.)
$1,500 (2013 est.)
$1,400 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
21312.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
9.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
8.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
153household consumption: 99%
government consumption: 17.3%
investment in fixed capital: 18.5%
investment in inventories: 6.3%
exports of goods and services: 14.5%
imports of goods and services: -55.6%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 50.4%
industry: 13.7%
services: 35.9% (2014 est.)
vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc)
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
4.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
61239,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
168agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)
20% (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world:
16360% (2002 est.)
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)
revenues: $175.6 million
expenditures: $183.3 million (2014 est.)
24.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
122-1.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
61calendar year
2.9% (2014 est.)
1.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1291.93% (31 December 2010)
2.21% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world:
12010.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
10.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
78$171.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$159.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
180$269.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$251.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
186$179.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$167.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
177-$76 million (2014 est.)
-$35.5 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
69$24.3 million (2014 est.)
$22.8 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
206vanilla, 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)
$235.8 million (2014 est.)
$231.4 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
202rice 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)
$251.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$251.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
186Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar -
364.4 (2014 est.)
370.53 (2013 est.)
382.9 (2012 est.)
353.9 (2011 est.)
371.46 (2010 est.)
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Energy :: COMOROS
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43 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
20939.99 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2090 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1240 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13122,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
20295.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
650% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
684.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1290% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1710 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1630 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
960 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1730 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1180 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1321,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1661,009 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1970 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1170 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1310 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
790 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1770 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
124157,400 Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
203
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Communications :: COMOROS
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total subscriptions: 23,500
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
178total: 383,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
173general 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
total: 50,200
percent of population: 6.6% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
182
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Transportation :: COMOROS
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4 (2013)
country comparison to the world:
186total: 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)
country comparison to the world:
187total: 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)
country comparison to the world:
39major seaport(s): Moroni, Mutsamudu
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Military :: COMOROS
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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)
males age 16-49: 184,236
females age 16-49: 183,363 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 134,562
females age 16-49: 145,797 (2010 est.)
male: 8,831
female: 8,809 (2010 est.)
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Transnational Issues :: COMOROS
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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
current situation: Comoros is a source country for children subjected to forced labor and, reportedly, sex trafficking; Comoran children are forced to labor within the country in domestic service, roadside and street vending, baking, fishing, and agriculture; some Comoran students at Koranic schools are exploited for forced agricultural or domestic labor, sometimes being subjected to physical and sexual abuse; Comoros may be particularly vulnerable to transnational trafficking because of inadequate border controls, government corruption, and the presence of criminal networks and may be a destination for the forced labor of Malagasy and East African women
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Comoros does not comply fully with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; the penal code was revised to include prohibitions against and penalties for human trafficking, but these modifications await parliamentary adoption; authorities failed to vigorously investigate or prosecute trafficking offenses, including official complicity in these crimes; although the government provided some funding to NGO-run centers, victim protection provisions remained very modest (2014)