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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Comoran Security Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 121,854 males fit for military service: 72,873 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

3,770 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

200 (1991 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $83 million expenditures: $92 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1992)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

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.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 16,000 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 27 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$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)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$160 million (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $370 million (1994 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$700 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

0.9% (1994 est.)

Imports [time series]

$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)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-6.5% (1989 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15% (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

15.8% (1989)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Coastline [time series]

340 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 coordinates [time series]

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

claims French-administered Mayotte

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

negligible

Terrain [time series]

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kartala 2,360 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali) note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu

Capital [time series]

Moroni

Constitution [time series]

7 June 1992

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (212) 983-4712

Legislative branch (Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale)) [time series]

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

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

6 July 1975 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

independent republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.82 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Infant mortality rate [time series]

75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 58.7 years male: 56.43 years female: 61.05 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

569,237 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.55% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 4 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,104 km paved: 400 km unpaved: 704 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudu

Railways [time series]

0 km