Comoros

Federal Islamic Republic of the ComorosRepublique Federale Islamique des Comores

independent republicIndependence 6 July 1975 (from France)

Comoros as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 84 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

Position12 10 S, 44 15 E

Area2,170 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique

Populationas each edition published it

569,237 people July 1996 est. · 460,188 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.55% 1996 est. · 3.54% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

58.7 years 1996 est. · 57.35 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.65 children per woman 1996 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

75.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 89 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$700 1994 est. · $540 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.9% 1994 est. · 2.7% in 1993

Geography

Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique | Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and | northern Mozambique

15 fields

Land useshare of 2,170 sq km

arable land 35%permanent crops 8%meadows and pastures 7%forest and woodland 16%other 34%

Area

2,170sq km

land area: 2,170 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

340km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

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

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

15 fields

Population

569,237

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 3.55% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

45.82Death

10.28Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years58.7

56.43 · 61.05

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy57.3%

64.2% · 50.4%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 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.)

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.)

Nationality

noun:: Comoran(s)
adjective:: Comoran

Ethnic divisions

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Languages

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

Government

Independent republic; President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (since 16 March 1996) was elected by popular vote; Prime Minister MASSOUNDI Tadjidine Ben Said (since March 1996) was appointed by the president

20 fields

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

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

Flag

green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward;
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 (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros);
the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992

Economy

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$700

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

0.9%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: -6.5% (1989 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

15%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.8%

(1989)

Budget

Revenues

$83 millionExpenditures

$92 million (1992)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $32 million

Installed generating capacity, 16,000 kW

Electricity production

17 millionElectricity consumption per capita

27 (1993)

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 composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

Labor force

140,000 (1982); by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%

Industries

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

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