Comoros Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Comoros, African state of the Indian Ocean; 2,200 km², 832,000 residents (2019).The Comoros, located in the Mozambique Canal northwest of Madagascar, consist of several islands, of which Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli) and Nzwani (Anjouan) are the largest. Claims are also made on the island of Mayotte (Mahoré), which, however, still constitutes a French “collectivité territoriale”. The capital is Moroni (54,000 residents, 2011) on Ngazidja.

Country facts

Jumhuriyyat al-Qumur al-Ittihadiyya al-Islamiyya / Union of the Comoros
Country abbreviation: KM
Area: 2 200 km²
Population (2019): 832,000 residents
Capital: Moroni
Main languages: Arabic, French, Shikomor (Comoro, Comorian)
State: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: Azali Assoumani (President)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 1,446
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 1,320
Currency: 1 franc = 100 centimes
Currency code: KMF
Country number (telephony): 269
Internet domain name: km
Time difference compared to Sweden: +2
National Day: July 6 (Independence Day, 1975)

Nature

Highest mountain: Kartala (2,361 m above sea level)

Population

Population density (2019): 378 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 2.5%; birth number 32 ‰, death number 7 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (39%), 15-64 (58%), 65- (3%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 62 years, women 66 years
Infant mortality (2019): 54 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 2 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.503 (place 165 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 29%
Most populous city (2011): Moroni (54,000 residents)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (48%), industry (12%), service (40%)
Exports (2017): US $ 19 million
Main export product: vanilla
Main exporting countries: France, India, Germany
Imports (2017): US $ 208 million
Main import products: rice, oil products, meat
Main importing countries: United Arab Emirates, France, China
Railway network: nothing in operation

The Comoros is a volcanic archipelago that includes three larger islands and a number of small, all surrounded by coral reefs. Mayotte, the fourth major island in the archipelago, is linked to France. The tropical islands have a dry season in May to October, when the average temperature is 20 °C, while the rainy season in summer, November to April, is humid and hot, around 28 °C.

After several years of deep division between the islands of the Federal Republic, the Union of the Comoros was formed when a new constitution was adopted in a referendum in 2001. According to this constitution, the three islands of Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Nzwani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Mohéli) enjoy far-reaching autonomy. The Union is led by a president, who is head of state. The President and two governors represent the three islands and together form a Union Council. They are elected for five years, and the presidential post rotates between the three islands. The Comoros became independent in 1975.

It is a poor agricultural country and you have serious problems with overpopulation, high unemployment and a poorly developed transport network. More than half of the population is employed in agriculture. vanilla, cloves and ylang-ylang (perfume plants).