Comoros

total: 3,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

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

.km

percent of population: 36% (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 8,200 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions: 934,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2023 est.)

bananas, coconuts, cassava, yams, maize, taro, milk, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, pulses (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

revenues: $212.551 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $230.338 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

-$24.621 million (2023 est.) -$5.248 million (2022 est.) -$4.076 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$267.652 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

small trade-based island economy; declining remittances; new structural and fiscal reforms; adverse cyclone and COVID-19 impacts; manageable debts; fragile liquidity environment; large foreign direct investment; state-owned enterprises suffering

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 454.524 (2024 est.) 454.991 (2023 est.) 467.184 (2022 est.) 415.956 (2021 est.) 430.721 (2020 est.)

$148.455 million (2023 est.) $166.032 million (2022 est.) $128.331 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cloves, ships, essential oils, vanilla, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Indonesia 25%, India 23%, Turkey 16%, UAE 11%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$1.546 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 103.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 9.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 9.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 36.6% (2024 est.) industry: 9.6% (2024 est.) services: 50.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

$504.036 million (2023 est.) $480.268 million (2022 est.) $415.965 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, poultry, rice, flavored water, additive manufacturing machines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 24%, UAE 21%, Tanzania 12%, France 7%, India 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

1% (2017 est.) 1.8% (2016 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

276,400 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

44.8% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

27.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

$3.092 billion (2024 est.) $2.99 billion (2023 est.) $2.901 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

3.4% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 2.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$3,600 (2024 est.) $3,500 (2023 est.) $3,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

21.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 22% of GDP (2022 est.) 22.2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$323.946 million (2024 est.) $324.561 million (2023 est.) $283.746 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

3.9% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 8.9% (2024 est.) male: 8.3% (2024 est.) female: 9.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity: 32,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 113.052 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 22.1 million kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 89.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 82.9%

fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

7.139 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

deforestation; soil degradation and erosion from forest loss and crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; silting of coral reefs

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 71.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.) forest: 17.8% (2023 est.) other: 10.7% (2023 est.)

14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

1.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal: 4.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 500,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 4.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

urban population: 30.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 91,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.1% (2022 est.)

total : 2,235 sq km land: 2,235 sq km water: 0 sq km

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, D.C.

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

340 km

highest point: Karthala 2,360 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

12 10 S, 44 15 E

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel; the only Arab League country that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere

1.3 sq km (2012)

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 71.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.) forest: 17.8% (2023 est.) other: 10.7% (2023 est.)

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

Africa

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore volcanism: Karthala (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

fish

the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

3 islands; Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali)

name: Moroni geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "at the place of fire," referring to the capital's location below the active volcano Mt. Karthala

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

history: previous 1996, 2001; newest adopted 30 July 2018 amendment process: proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at least three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum

conventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/Union des Comores (French)/Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic) local short form: Komori (Comorian)/Les Comores (French)/Juzur al Qamar (Arabic) former: Comorian State, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros etymology: name derives from the Arabic al qamar , meaning "the moon"

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: Permanent Mission to the UN, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 495, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637 FAX: [1] (212) 750-1657 email address and website: comoros@un.int https://www.un.int/comoros/

chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016) head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term most recent election date: 14 January 2024 election results: 2024: AZALI Assoumani reelected president in first round - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 63%, SALIM ISSA Abdallah (PJ) 20.3%, DAOUDOU Abdallah Mohamed (Orange Party) 5.9%, Bourhane HAMIDOU (independent) 5.1% expected date of next election: 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

description: four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left; a vertical white crescent moon is centered in the triangle, with four five-pointed white stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent meaning: the horizontal bands and the stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -- Mwali, N'gazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte is a department of France, but claimed by Comoros) note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

federal presidential republic

6 July 1975 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges - selection and term of office NA subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de premi re instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts

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

legislature name: Assembly of the Union (Assembl e de l'Union) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 33 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 1/12/2025 to 2/16/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) (31); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 18.2% expected date of next election: January 2030 note: opposition parties, which claimed there was "gross fraud" during the most recent election, boycotted the elections in 2020 and 2025

title: "Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands) lyrics/music: Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH history: adopted 1978

the coat of arms is in the national colors of green and white; was adopted in 1978; the crescent and stars represent Islam, with the four stars also symbolizing the archipelago s four main islands: Grande Comore, Moh li, Anjouan, and Mayotte (the last of which is a French department claimed by Comoros); above and below the sun s rays is the name of the nation written in French and Arabic; two olive branches, representing peace, are connected by a banner with the national motto in French, which translates as "Unity, Solidarity, Development"

green, white

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

four five-pointed stars and crescent moon

Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC Juwa Party (Parti Juwa) or PJ Orange Party (2020)

18 years of age; universal

For centuries prior to colonization in the 19th century, the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean served as a key node in maritime trade networks that connected the Middle East, India, and eastern African regions. Composed of the islands of Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli, and Grande Comore, Comoros spent most of the 20th century as a colonial outpost until it declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. Residents of Mayotte, however, voted to remain in France, and the French Government has since classified it as a French Overseas Department. Since independence, Comoros has weathered approximately 20 successful and attempted coups, mostly between 1975 and 2000, resulting in prolonged political instability and stunted economic development. In 2002, President AZALI Assoumani became the first elected president following the completion of the Fomboni Accords, in which the islands of Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli agreed to rotate the presidency among the islands every five years. This power-sharing agreement also included provisions allowing each island to maintain its local government. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of the Comoros, refusing to step down when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis with sanctions and a naval blockade of Anjouan, but in 2008, the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair. In closely contested elections in 2016, AZALI won a second term, when the rotating presidency returned to Grande Comore. In 2018, a referendum -- which the opposition parties boycotted -- approved a new constitution that extended presidential term limits and abolished the requirement for the presidency to rotate between the three main islands. AZALI formed a new government later that year, and he subsequently ran and was reelected in 2019. AZALI was reelected again in January 2024 in an election that the opposition disputed but the Supreme Court validated.

the focus for the security forces is search and rescue operations and maintaining internal security; a defense treaty with France provides naval resources for the protection of territorial waters, training of Comoran military personnel, and air surveillance; France maintains a small maritime base and a Foreign Legion contingent on neighboring Mayotte (2024)

National Army for Development (l'Armee Nationale de Developpement, AND): Comoran Defense Force (Force Comorienne de Defense or FCD; includes Comoran National Gendarmerie); Ministry of Interior: Coast Guard, Federal Police, National Directorate of Territorial Safety (customs and immigration) (2024) note 1: when the Gendarmerie serves as the judicial police, it reports to the Minister of Justice; the Gendarmerie also has an intervention platoon that may act under the authority of the Interior Minister note 2: the FCD is also known as the Comoran Security Force

estimated 600 Defense Force; estimated 500 Federal Police (2023)

the AND is lightly armed and equipped with small arms, a few light aircraft, and utility vehicles (2024)

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)

0-14 years: 32.6% (male 146,480/female 146,626) 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 271,139/female 294,231) 65 years and over: 4.6% (2024 est.) (male 18,139/female 23,526)

total: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

21.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

women married by age 15: 4.9% (2022) women married by age 18: 20.7% (2022) men married by age 18: 6.9% (2022)

9.1% (2022 est.)

63.1% (2022 est.)

6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 57.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 49.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.5 (2025 est.)

urban: 97.4% of population rural: 88.5% of population total: 91% of population urban: 2.6% of population rural: 11.5% of population total: 8.9% of population (2017 est.)

2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 11.5% national budget (2025 est.)

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

1.24 (2025 est.)

6.3% of GDP (2021) 4.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

total: 53.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 64.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; similar to Swahili), Comorian

total population: 67.8 years (2024 est.) male: 65.5 years female: 70.2 years

total population: 75.8% (2021 est.) male: 79.9% (2021 est.) female: 72.2% (2021 est.)

62,000 MORONI (capital) (2018)

179 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 23.1 years (2025 est.) male: 22.1 years female: 23.3 years

23 years (2012 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.8% (2016)

0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

total: 911,707 (2025 est.) male: 441,215 female: 470,492

the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map

1.26% (2025 est.)

Muslim 98.1% (overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, small Shia Muslim and Ahmadiyya Muslim populations), ethnic religionist 1.1%, Christian 0.6%, other 0.3% (2020 est.) note: Sunni Islam is the state religion

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 14.7% (2025 est.) male: 24.8% (2025 est.) female: 4.7% (2025 est.)

2.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)

urban population: 30.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

refugees: 18 (2024 est.) IDPs: 38 (2024 est.)

3 (2025)

D6

total: 273 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 7, general cargo 125, oil tanker 36, other 88

total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Dzaoudzi, Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudu