Statistical information Comoros 1989

Comoros in the World
top of pageBackground: Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from France in 1975.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claimsExtended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land use: 35% arable land; 8% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 16% forest and woodland; 34% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1
top of pagePopulation: 444,484 (July 1989), growth rate 3.5% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Comoran(s; adjective - Comoran
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Languages: Shaafi Islam (a Swahili dialect), Malagasy, French
Religions: 86% Sunni Muslim, 14% Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 47 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 13 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; cyclones possible during rainy season
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 91 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 58 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 15%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
Government type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: none
Dependent areasIndependence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 1 October 1978, amended October 1982 and January 1985
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult
Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government - President Ahmed ABDALLAH ABDEREMANE (since 22 October 1978)
Legislative branch: Army, Presidential Guard, Gendarmerie
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN; Chancery (temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10,017; telephone (212) 972-8,010; US - Ambassador Patricia Gates LYNCH, resides in Antananarivo (Madagascar; Embassy at address NA, Moroni (mailing address B. P. 1318, Moroni; telephone 73-12-03
Flag description
: green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag; 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 (which is a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: One of the world's poorest countries, the 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 low level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes about 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. During the period 1982-86 the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 5.3%, but its contribution to GDP was less than 4% in 1986. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: food crops - rice, manioc, maize, fruits, vegetables, coconuts, cinnamon, yams; export crops - essential oils for perfumes (mainly ylang-ylang), vanilla, copra, cloves
Industries: perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate: 8.1% (1986)
Labor force: 140,000 (1982; 80% agriculture, 3% government; 51% of population of working age (1985)
Unemployment rate: over 20% (1986)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $66.6 million; expenditures $69.9 million, including capital expenditures of $34.1 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Partners: US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2%
Imports: $41 million (c.i.f., 1986)
Commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods
Partners: Europe 62% (France 22%, other 40%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $238 million (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 312.52 (January 1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985; linked to the French franc at 50 to 1 French franc
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 16,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced, 55 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.4 million, 12.06% of central government budget (1981)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 4 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsComoros - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: claims French-administered Mayotte
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs