Form of Government: Republic
Area: 1 861 sq km
Population: 869 595 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 467.27 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 11° - 13° S; long. 43° - 45° E
Capital: Moroni 62 351 inhab. (2018), urban agglomeration
Currency: Comorian franc (100 centimes, no longer used)
Human development index: 0.554 (rank: 156)
Head of State: Azali Assoumani, elected 10 April 2016, in office since 26 May 2016, reconfirmed 24 March 2019
Internet: www.inseed.km (Institut National de la Statistique)
Member of Arab League, AU, COMESA, OIC, SADC, UN, WTO observer
Comoros

International license plate code COM
International dialling code 00269
Travel vaccinations requirement malaria prophylaxis (recommended)
Electricity (Voltage) 220
Driving side rigth
Internet code .km
GMT +3
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Moroni 25.2
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Moroni 26.5/23.5
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Moroni 8/7
Annual average precipitation (mm) Moroni 2630
Days of rainfall (annual average) Moroni 132
Geography.
An archipelago in the Indian Ocean, situated at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel. The main islands are Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Ndzuwani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Mohéli). Large tracts of the islands, which are of volcanic origin, are covered in forest. The highest peak is the volcano Karthala (2361 m) on Grande Comore, which last erupted in January 2007. It has a tropical climate.
Government
Formerly an overseas territory of Metropolitan France, the Comoros archipelago became independent on 6 July 1975, after the referendum of 22 December 1974 (Mayotte was the only island that opted to remain part of France). Its politics have been dominated by authoritarian regimes. In 1995-96 a military regime led by a French mercenary, Bob Denard, seized power and democracy was restored only as a result of French military intervention. In 1999 another coup brought Colonel Azali Assoumani to power. In 2002, however, thanks to the mediation of France and the African Union, democratic institutions were re-instated, safeguarding the three main islands’ aspirations towards autonomy. On 2007 the refusal of the President of the island of Anjouan, Mohamed Bacar, to step down at the end of his mandate led to effective secession, ending in military intervention (March 2008). Azali Assoumani won the presidential election of 2016 and returned to lead the country; after a constitutional referendum (30 July 2018) granted him the opportunity to reapply, he was re-elected in 2019. According to the 2001 Constitution, modified several times, the Federal President is elected every five years and has the opportunity to reapply only once. The Federal Parliament is made up of 33 members of whom 24 are elected directly and 9 are appointed by the regional assemblies (three from each island). Each island elects its own president and legislative assembly.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Military expenditure | 2.8 | % of GDP | 2007 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 7.7 | per 100 000 pop. | 2015 |
Administrative division
Island | AREA | INHABITANTS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Mwali/Mohéli/Mūhaylī | 290 sq km | 56 932 inhab. | 2018 |
Ndzuwani/Anjouan/Hanzwān | 424 sq km | 360 409 inhab. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Moroni | 62 351 | inhab. | 2018 |
Mutsamudu | 25 009 | inhab. | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Moroni | 62 351 | inhab. | 2018 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 31.407 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 7.135 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Comorian | 97$ | % | 2000 |
Makoa | 1.6 | % | 2000 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Muslim (Sunni) | 98$ | % | 2017 |
other | 2$ | % | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Arabic (official) |
Bantu |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 36.3 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 28.2 | % | 2020 |
Economy
The economy is based on agriculture and on remittances from migrant workers.
Food products grown for domestic consumption (rice, maize, sweet potatoes and cassava) are not sufficient to meet the nation’s needs.
Crops grown for export include cloves, plants used in the perfume industry (including ylang-ylang), vanilla and coffee. Promoting Comoros as a tourist destination is proving difficult owing to the unstable political situation. Oil prospecting is under way. The Comorian franc is pegged to the Euro by a fixed exchange rate.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 109.42 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 99.83 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 230 000 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 42.2 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 8.4 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 45.7 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 100 922 | M LCU | 2020 |
Revenues | 101 009 | M LCU | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 50.4 | % | 2019 |
industry | 13$ | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 34.536 | % | 2019 |
industry | 9.246 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 45.759 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 294.34 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 62.332 | % | 2018 |
forests | 18.162 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 42.689 | 1000 t | 2019 |
maize | 7.179 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 65.071 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 0.666 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
tomatoes | 0.68 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 0.986 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 86.97 | 1000 t | 2019 |
copra | 8.2 | 1000 t | 2006 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cinnamon | 0.015 | 1000 t | 2016 |
cloves | 6.471 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 26.685 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 22.785 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
maize | 3.547 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
rice | 27.706 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 11.449 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 0.044 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
tomatoes | 0.074 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 1.17 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 28.745 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cloves | 16.428 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
cocoa | 0.151 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 3.953 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 353 142 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 50.808 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 50.808 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 25.048 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 121.184 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 5.543 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 5.543 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 549 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
eggs | 0.76 | 1000 t | 2019 |
hides and skins | 0.33 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
marine fishes | 17 600 | t | 2019 |
total catch | 17 600 | t | 2019 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 100 | M kWh | 2018 |
non-renewable electricity generation | 99.602 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 26$ | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- hydro | 1$ | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 100.4 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 27$ | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconut oil | 6.074 | 1000 t | 2018 |
vegetable oils | 6.074 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufacturing production | 42.4 | M US$ | 2015 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufactures | 56.123 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
food products | 43.528 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 51.5 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 45 100 | units | 2019 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 11.2 | years | 2014 |
Graduates | 1 277 | units | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 124 240 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 73 695 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 2.2 | per 1000 pop. | 2010 |
Physicians | 0.27 | per 1000 pop. | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | -0.1 | % of adults | 2019 |
Malaria | 17 697 | cases | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 7.5 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 84.048 | % | 2019 |