Page last updated on January 28, 2014
Comoros has endured more than 20 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 of the entire government in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords 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, and each island in the archipelago elected its president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI was elected to office. 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.
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
total: 2,235 sq km
country comparison to the world: 180
land: 2,235 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
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
arable land: 44.06%
permanent crops: 31.17%
other: 24.77% (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 (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
752,288 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
0-14 years: 41.8% (male 156,812/female 157,917)
15-24 years: 18.7% (male 67,934/female 72,589)
25-54 years: 31.6% (male 112,825/female 124,991)
55-64 years: 4.1% (male 13,827/female 17,290)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 13,370/female 14,733) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 81.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 76.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 %
potential support ratio: 19.3 (2013)
total: 19 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19.6 years (2013 est.)
1.97% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
30.26 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
urban population: 28% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.84% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
MORONI (capital) 54,000 (2011)
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: 0.81 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
280 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 43
total: 67.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 21
male: 78.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 63.12 years
country comparison to the world: 183
male: 60.89 years
female: 65.41 years (2013 est.)
3.93 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
5.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 130
0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
2.2 beds/1,000 population (2006)
improved:
unimproved: rural: 0.3% of population (2011 est.)
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
4.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
25% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 25
7.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 75.5%
male: 80.5%
female: 70.6% (2011 est.)
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2005)
total number: 39,550
percentage: 27 % (2000 est.)
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)
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 (2009)
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)
head of government: President Ikililou DHOININE (since 26 May 2011)
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 on 7 November and 26 December 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Ikililou DHOININE elected president; percent of vote - Ikililou DHOININE 61.1%, Mohamed Said FAZUL 32.7%, Abdou DJABIR 6.2%
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by universal suffrage to serve for five years);
elections: last held on 6 and 20 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - pro-union coalition 19, autonomous coalition 4, independents 1; note - 9 additional seats are filled by deputies from local 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 selected - 2 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; island village (community) courts; religious courts
Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President)
ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
chief of mission: Ambassador Roubani KAAMBI (since 6 September 2012); note - also serves as Permanent Representative to the UN
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, currently Charge d'Affaires Eric WONG, 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 - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
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 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 50% to 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. 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 - lacks a comprehensive strategy to attract foreign investment and 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. Political problems have inhibited growth, which averaged only about 1% in 2006-09 but more than 2% per year in 2010-12. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. In September 2009 the IMF approved Comoros for a three-year $21 million loan, but the government has struggled to meet program targets, such as restricting spending on wages, strengthening domestic revenue collection, and moving forward on structural reforms. 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.
$868 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$587.9 million (2012 est.)
3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$1,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 99.6%
government consumption: 17.4%
investment in fixed capital: 19.5%
investment in inventories: 3.2%
exports of goods and services: 15.8%
imports of goods and services: -55.5%
agriculture: 51%
industry: 10%
services: 39% (2012 est.)
vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc)
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
4.5%
country comparison to the world: 62
233,500 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)
20% (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)
revenues: $164.8 million
expenditures: $155.9 million (2012 est.)
28% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
1.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
6.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
1.93% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
10.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$151.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$212.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
$132.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
$-40.9 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$19.6 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Netherlands 58.6%, Singapore 10.6%, Turkey 9.3%, France 5.6%, India 5% (2012)
$208 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Pakistan 15.7%, France 14.2%, UAE 11.5%, India 8.5%, China 6.7%, Kenya 5.3%, Singapore 5.2% (2012)
$136.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar -
40 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
37.2 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
6,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
83.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
16.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 116
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
1,025 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
877.1 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 124
148,400 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
24,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 181
250,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 177
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)
14 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 225
24,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
4 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 185
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
total: 880 km
country comparison to the world: 186
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (2002)
total: 149
country comparison to the world: 39
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
Army of National Development (l'Armee du Developpement Nationale, AND): Comoran Security Force (also called Comoran Defense Force (Force Comorienne de Defense, FCD), includes Gendarmerie), Comoran Coast Guard, Comoran Federal Police (2013)
18 years of age for 2-year voluntary military service; no conscription; women first inducted into the Army in 2004 (2012)
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.)
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 were called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001
