Comoros

independent republicIndependence 6 July 1975 (from France)

Comoros as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMoroni

LocationSoutheastern Africa, in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about

Populationas each edition published it

530,136 people July 1994 est. · 460,188 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.55% 1994 est. · 3.54% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 57.35 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.79 children per woman 1994 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

79.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 89 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$700 1993 est. · $540 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 1992 est. · 2.7% in 1993

Geography

Southeastern Africa, in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about | two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern | Mozambique

23 fields

Coastline

340km

land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Southeastern Africa, in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

2,170 sq km

land area

2,170 sq km

comparative area

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Climate

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

arable land

35%

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

16%

other

34%

current issues

soil degradation and erosion; deforestation

natural hazards

cyclones possible during rainy season

international agreements

signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

People

22 fields

Population

530,136

(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 3.55% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth

46.48Death

10.95Net migration

Labor force

140,000

(1982)

Literacy

15and over can read and write

age · (1980)

Infant mortality rate

79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

57.81 years

male

55.63 years

female

60.06 years (1994 est.)

noun

Comoran(s)

adjective

Comoran

Ethnic divisions

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Languages

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

total population

48%

male

56%

female

40%

by occupation

agriculture 80%, government 3%

note

51% of population of working age (1985)

Government

Independent republic

29 fields

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

Administrative divisions

three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)

note

there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu

Legal system

French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

chief of state

: President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990);
election last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996);
results - Said Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%

head of government

: Prime Minister Mohamed Abdou MADI (since 6 January 1994) appointed by President DJOHAR 6 January 1994 (DJOHAR has appointed 14 prime ministers in the last three years)

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

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;
2 seats remained unfilled

note

opposition is boycotting the National Assembly until the government promises to investigate fraud in the last election

Political parties and leaders

over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of which are;
Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU;
Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL;
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)

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

chief of mission

Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN

chancery

(temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017

Flag

green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag);
there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent;
the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam;
the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)

Economy

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.

26 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$700

(1993 est.)

Real growth rate

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

(1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.9%

over · (1989)

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 low 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, and rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports.

During 1982-86 the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 5.3%, but its contribution to GDP is small. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of 1.5% during 1985-90 has led to large budget deficits, declining incomes, and balance-of-payments difficulties. Estimates for 1992 show a moderate increase in the growth rate based on increased exports, tourism, and government investment outlays.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $360 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$96 million

expenditures

$88 million, including capital expenditures of $33 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$21 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang

partners

US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)

Imports

$60 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods

partners

Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)

External debt

$160 million (1992 est.)

capacity

16,000 kW

production

25 million kWh

consumption per capita

50 kWh (1991)

Industries

perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks

Agriculture

accounts for 40% of GDP;
most of population works in subsistence agriculture and fishing;
plantations produce cash crops for export - vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra;
principal food crops - coconuts, bananas, cassava;
world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla;
large net food importer

recipient

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $435 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $18 million

Currency

1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 444.03 (January 1994), 254.57 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989)

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

Communications

11 fields

total

750 km

paved

bituminous 210 km

unpaved

crushed stone, gravel 540 km

Ports

Mutsamudu, Moroni

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion;
over 1,800 telephones;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Defense Forces

Comoran Defense Force (FDC)

3 fields

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →

Geography

total area

land area

comparative area

exclusive economic zone

territorial sea

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

other

current issues

natural hazards

international agreements

People

total population

male

female

noun

adjective

total population

male

female

by occupation

note

Government

conventional long form

conventional short form

local long form

local short form

note

chief of state

head of government

cabinet

note

chief of mission

chancery

Economy

revenues

expenditures

commodities

partners

commodities

partners

capacity

production

consumption per capita

recipient

note

Communications

total

paved

unpaved

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Defense Forces

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