World Facts Index
 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 own local government. AZALI won the 2002 Presidential
election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI
stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's
President Mohamed BACAR has refused to work effectively with the Union
presidency. In 2007, 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.
Geography of Comoros
|
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 |
|
Coordinates:
|
12 10 S, 44 15 E |
|
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 |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
340 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
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 |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Indian
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
Negligible |
|
Natural hazards:
|
cyclones possible during
rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an
active volcano |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
soil degradation and
erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper
terracing; deforestation |
|
Geography - note:
|
important location at
northern end of Mozambique Channel
|
Population of Comoros
|
Population:
|
731,775 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 148,009/female 147,038)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 185,107/female 190,139)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,672/female 10,983) |
|
Median age:
|
18.6 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
2.87% |
|
Infant mortality:
|
72.85 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 62.33 years
male: 60 years
female: 64.72 years |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
5.03 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa,
Oimatsaha, Sakalava |
|
Religions:
|
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman
Catholic 2% |
|
Languages:
|
Arabic (official), French
(official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Union of the
Comoros
local short form: Comores
local long form: Union des Comores |
|
Government type:
|
independent republic |
|
Capital:
|
Moroni |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja),
Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named
Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou |
|
Independence:
|
6 July 1975 (from France) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 6 July (1975) |
|
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 |
|
Legal system:
|
French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new
consolidated code |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI
(since 26 May 2006)
head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)
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 14 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2010); prime
minister appointed by the president; note - the post of prime minister has been
vacant since May 2002 |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies
are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the 18 by universal suffrage;
deputies serve for five years) |
|
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). |
Economy
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 - which is hampered by
internal political disputes - 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. The political problems caused the economy to contract in 2007.
Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.
|
GDP:
|
$1.262 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
3% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$1,100 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
3% |
|
Labor force:
|
144,500 |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% |
|
Unemployment:
|
20% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $27.6 million |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4% |
|
Industries:
|
tourism, perfume distillation |
|
Agriculture:
|
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra,
coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) |
|
Exports:
|
vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil,
copra |
|
Export partners:
|
France 27.6%, Singapore 16.7%, Japan 15.1%, Germany 13.6%,
US 5.8%, Netherlands 5.2% |
|
Imports:
|
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods;
petroleum products, cement, transport equipment |
|
Import partners:
|
France 20.3%, South Africa 12.1%, Kenya 8.3%, UAE 8.3%,
Pakistan 5.2%, Mauritius 4.6%, Belgium 4.2% |
|
Currency:
|
Comoran franc (KMF) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |