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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.km

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

7 (2009) country comparison to the world: 223

Internet users [time series]

23,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 188

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations; fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 5 per 100 persons domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

23,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 187

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

42,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 198

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $27.6 million expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5.36% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 80 5.36% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

7% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 79 10.5% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

$8 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Debt - external [time series]

$232 million (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

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, 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 have inhibited growth, which has averaged only about 1% in 2006-08. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

20.46 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

22 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Exchange rates [time series]

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007), 391.8 (2006), 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003) note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

Exports [time series]

$32 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 201

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

France 27.1%, Turkey 15.2%, India 9.5%, Greece 9.4%, Brazil 8.9%, Algeria 7%, Singapore 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.3% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$532 million (2008 est.)

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

$741.7 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $738 million (2007 est.) $745.5 million (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

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

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

$1,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 $1,000 (2007 est.) $1,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

0.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 -1% (2007 est.) 1.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$143 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 203

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Brazil 13.4%, France 13.1%, China 11.5%, UAE 9.1%, India 5.8%, Italy 5.3%, Pakistan 5.3%, Singapore 4.2%, Kenya 4.2% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-2% (1999 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Industries [time series]

fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Labor force [time series]

268,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Oil - consumption [time series]

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Oil - imports [time series]

766.2 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Population below poverty line [time series]

60% (2002 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$79.52 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 125 $45.09 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$100.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 113 $76.68 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$41.74 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 124 $23.39 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (1996 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 2,235 sq km country comparison to the world: 179 land: 2,235 sq km water: 0 sq km

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 Karthala 2,360 m

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, 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography - note [time series]

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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 [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Karthala 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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

1.2 cu km (2003)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

23 December 2001

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Representative to the UN and Ambassador to the US Mohamed TOIHIRI chancery: Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637

Executive branch [time series]

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 in 2011) election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed DJAANFAMI 13.7%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

6 July 1975 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held on 2 August 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

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

Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

other: environmentalists

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 was elected to office. 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 167,850 females age 16-49: 167,362 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 125,747 females age 16-49: 135,707 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 8,203 female: 8,188 (2009 est.)

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

National Development Army (AND): Comoran Security Force; Comoran Federal Police (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

2.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 54

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 159,282/female 158,073) 15-64 years: 54.8% (male 203,533/female 208,591) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,474/female 12,485) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.23 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Death rate [time series]

7.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 120

Ethnic groups [time series]

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 66.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 30 male: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 58.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.47 years country comparison to the world: 171 male: 61.07 years female: 65.94 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.5% male: 63.6% female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.8 years male: 18.5 years female: 19.1 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

Net migration rate [time series]

NA (2009 est.)

Population [time series]

752,438 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Population growth rate [time series]

2.766% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2004)

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: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.84 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 28% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 are called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001

Transportation

Airports [time series]

4 (2009) country comparison to the world: 184

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 136 country comparison to the world: 46 by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 87, carrier 2, chemical tanker 5, container 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 68 (Bangladesh 2, Bulgaria 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 6, India 2, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 4, Norway 1, Pakistan 4, Philippines 1, Russia 12, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 1, Syria 4, Turkey 8, Ukraine 8, UAE 7, US 2) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Mayotte, Mutsamudu

Roadways [time series]

total: 880 km country comparison to the world: 184 paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (2002)