Statistical information Comoros 1993

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 pageLocation: in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 2,170 km²
Land: 2,170 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land useArable land: 35%
Permanent crops: 8%
Meadows and pastures: 7%
Forest and woodland: 16%
Other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulationGrowth rate: 3.54% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Comoran(s)
Adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of
Swahili and Arabic)
Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.54% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 46.75 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 11.31 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; cyclones possible during rainy season
Current issues note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 81.8 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 57.35 years
Male: 55.23 years
Female: 59.55 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Total population: 48%
Male: 56%
Female: 40%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
Conventional short form: Comoros
Local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
Local short form: Comores
Government type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions:
three islands; Njazidja (Grand Comore), Nzwani (Anjouan), and Mwali (Moheli)
there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and
Mutsamudu
Dependent areasIndependence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 7 June 1992
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WMO
Chief of mission: 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
Diplomatic representationFrom the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth N. PELTIER
From the us embassy: address NA, Moroni
From the us mailing address: B. P. 1318, Moroni
From the us telephone: 269 73-22-03, 73-29-22
From the us fax: no service available at this time
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, 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 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, 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 only 5% in 1988. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of 1.5% during 1985-90 has led to large budget deficits, declining incomes, and balance-of-payments difficulties. Preliminary estimates for FY92 show a moderate increase in the growth rate based on increased exports, tourism, and government investment outlays.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2.7% (1991 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $540 (1991 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export - vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra; principal food crops - coconuts, bananas, cassava; world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla; large net food importer
Industries: perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:
growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of
GDP
Labor force: 140,000 (1982)
By occupation agriculture: 80%
By occupation government:3%
51% of population of working age (1985)
Unemployment rate: over 16% (1988 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $96 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital expenditures of $33 million (1991 est.)
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 balanceExportsCommodoties: vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang
Partners: US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)
Imports: $41 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodoties: rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods
Partners: Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988); note - linked to the French franc at 50 to 1 French franc
top of pageElectricityProduction: 16,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1991)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: $NA, NA% of GDP
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 4
Usable: 4
With permanentsurface runways: 4
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 3
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsComoros - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international: claims French-administered Mayotte
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs