Comoros

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.km

Internet hosts

14 (2012) country comparison to the world: 226

Internet users

24,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 187

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

23,600 (2011) country comparison to the world: 185

Telephones - mobile cellular

216,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 180

Agriculture - products

vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc)

Budget

revenues: $126.8 million expenditures: $130.4 million (2012 est.) (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Central bank discount rate

1.93% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 2.21% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 10.5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$67 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 -$60.4 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$279.3 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $485.4 million (31 December 2010 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. 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.

Exchange rates

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 386.4 (2012 est.) 353.9 (2011 est.) 371.46 (2010 est.)

Exports

$27.5 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 204 $25.2 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra

Exports - partners

Singapore 34.9%, Turkey 23%, France 10.2%, Netherlands 7.6%, India 4.3% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$595 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$872 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $850.6 million (2011 est.) $832.4 million (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2011 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $1,300 (2011 est.) $1,300 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 2.2% (2011 est.) 2.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)

Imports

$211.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 $206.6 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Pakistan 16.1%, France 15.7%, UAE 11.2%, Turkey 7.3%, Kenya 5.5%, India 4.8% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 1.8% (2011 est.)

Labor force

268,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line

60% (2002 est.)

Stock of broad money

$212.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 $198.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$139.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $130.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$135 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 $128.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

149,600 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - consumption

48.36 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Electricity - from fossil fuels

83.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

16.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - installed generating capacity

6,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - production

52 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,025 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,009 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Area

total: 2,235 sq km country comparison to the world: 180 land: 2,235 sq km water: 0 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: Karthala 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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%) per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)

Geographic coordinates

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography - note

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 35.87% permanent crops: 23.32% other: 40.81% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Total renewable water resources

1.2 cu km (2003)

Administrative divisions

3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*

Capital

name: Moroni geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

23 December 2001

Country name

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Roubani KAAMBI; 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

Executive branch

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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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%

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, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros) note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Government type

republic

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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)

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

mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law

Legislative branch

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

National anthem

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

National symbol(s)

four stars and crescent

Political parties and leaders

Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 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 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, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections 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 on Anjouan, but in March 2008 AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 184,236 females age 16-49: 183,363 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 134,562 females age 16-49: 145,797 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 8,831 female: 8,809 (2010 est.)

Military branches

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 (2011)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 49

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for 2-year voluntary military service; no conscription; women first inducted into the Army in 2004 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 155,134/ female 156,238) 15-64 years: 54.1% (male 189,465/ female 209,242) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 13,036/ female 14,169) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

31.49 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

25% (2000) country comparison to the world: 26

Death rate

8.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Education expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 13

Ethnic groups

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Health expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 173

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

total: 68.97 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 21 male: 80.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 57.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.74 years country comparison to the world: 182 male: 60.54 years female: 65.01 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.9% male: 80.2% female: 69.7% (2010 est.)

Major cities - population

MORONI (capital) 49,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

280 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 42

Median age

total: 18.9 years male: 18.3 years female: 19.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

Net migration rate

-2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Physicians density

0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

Population

737,284 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Population growth rate

2.063% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Religions

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 50% of population rural: 30% of population total: 36% of population unimproved: urban: 50% of population rural: 70% of population total: 64% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 10 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.09 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Urbanization

urban population: 28% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Airports

4 (2012) country comparison to the world: 190

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2012)

Merchant marine

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)

Ports and terminals

Mayotte, Mutsamudu

Roadways

total: 880 km country comparison to the world: 185 paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (2002)