Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

81,000 (1994)

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]

4,000 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0 (1998)

Televisions [time series]

200 (1994

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $48 million expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$219 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$43.3 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

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, 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 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. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be maintained.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Comoran francs (CF) per US$1--420.01 (December 1998), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$11.4 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

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

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$400 million (1997 est.)

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

agriculture: 40% industry: 14% services: 46% (1996 est.)

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

purchasing power parity?$700 (1997 est.)

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

3.5% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$70 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

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

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (1997)

Labor force [time series]

144,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 80%, government 3%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (1996 est.)

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 35% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 18% other: 30% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL

Terrain [time series]

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Moroni

Constitution [time series]

20 October 1996

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

CN

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN) 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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Interim President TADJIDDINE Ben Said Massounde (since 6 November 1998); note--President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim died in office 6 November 1998 and was succeeded by Interim President MASSOUNDE head of government: Prime Minister Abbas DJOUSSOUF (since 22 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote--64% note: the Comoran constitution stipulates that upon the death of the president, a new president is to be elected within 90 days; however, Interim President TADJIDDINE has stated that a new election cannot be held until Anjouan is reunited with the rest of the country

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

independent republic

Independence [time series]

6 July 1975 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats; members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Federal Assembly--last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA) election results: Federal Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RND 39, RND candidate running as independent 1, FNJ 3

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

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

Rassemblement National pour le NA] note: under a new constitution ratified in October 1996, a two-party system was established; former President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim called for all parties to dissolve and join him in creating the RND; the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from France in 1975. Most recently, in August 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. An attempt in September 1997 by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Comoran Security Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$3 million (1994 est.)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 132,969 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 79,224 (1999 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (male 120,397; female 119,945) 15-64 years: 54% (male 150,851; female 154,990) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,878; female 8,662) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

40.29 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Infant mortality rate [time series]

81.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 60.85 years male: 58.39 years female: 63.38 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

562,723 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.11% (1999 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 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.43 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

claims French-administered Mayotte; the islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede from Comoros

Airports [time series]

4 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou

Railways [time series]

0 km