Comoros

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.km

Internet users

2,500 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

90,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

Telephones - main lines in use

7,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

1,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Budget

revenues: $27.6 million expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Currency

Comoran franc (KMF)

Currency code

KMF

Debt - external

$225 million

Economic aid - recipient

$10 million (2001 est.)

Economy - overview

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 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 the bulk 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, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

Electricity - consumption

17.67 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

19 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 89% hydro: 11% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Comoran francs per US dollar - 557.09 (January 2002), 549.78 (2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997) note: prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

Exports

$35.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 46%, US 18%, Singapore 18%, Germany 9% (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $424 million (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $710 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$44.9 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 7%, Pakistan 4% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (1999 est.)

Industries

tourism, perfume distillation

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2001 est.)

Labor force

144,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%

Population below poverty line

60% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.)

Area

total: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 2,170 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Coastline

340 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography - note

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 34.98% permanent crops: 17.94% other: 47.08% (1998 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Administrative divisions

3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou

Capital

Moroni

Constitution

23 December 2001 note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on 20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; the GUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002

Country name

conventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local short form: Comores local long form: Union des Comores

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN) telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711 FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699 chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

Executive branch

chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - AZALI Assoumani became president on 6 May 1999 after a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999; on 16 January 2002, President AZALI resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; during that time, Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO served as interim president; AZALI Assoumani sworn in as president on 26 May 2002 election results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with 75% of the vote elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president head of government: Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO (since NA November 2000); note - on 16 January 2002, President AZALI resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president and Djaffar SALIM interim deputy prime minister cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Flag description

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, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Government type

independent republic

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic)

Legal system

French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats - five from each island); members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (42 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April 1999 elections: Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA April 2003) note: the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in the opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in the opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Ali Bazi SELIM]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He has pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002.

Military branches

Comoran Security Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$6 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 145,509 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 86,455 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.9% (male 132,013; female 131,282) 15-64 years: 54.2% (male 164,245; female 168,793) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,588; female 9,461) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

39.01 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.12% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

81.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 60.79 years female: 63.09 years (2002 est.) male: 58.56 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 64.2% female: 50.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

Net migration rate

NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

614,382 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.99% (2002 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.26 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from Comoros again after recent military coup

Airports

4 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)

Highways

total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1996)

Merchant marine

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 139,779 GRT/205,369 DWT ships by type: cargo 6 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Malta 1, Pakistan 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none