Comoros | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

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Facts & Figures

  • President: Ikililou Dhoinine (2011)

    Total area: 838 sq mi (2,170 sq km)

    Population (2014 est.): 766,865 (growth rate: 1.87%); birth rate: 29.0549/1000; infant mortality rate: 65.31/1000; life expectancy: 63.48

    Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Moroni (on Grande Comoro), 54,000

    Monetary unit: Franc

    National Name: Union des Comores

    Current Government Officials

    Languages: Arabic and French (both official), Shikomoro (Swahili/Arabic blend)

    Ethnicity/race: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

    National Holiday: Independence Day, July 6

    Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

    Literacy rate: 75.5% (2011 est.)

    Economic summary: GDP/PPP: (2013 est.) $911 million; per capita $1,300. Real growth rate: 3.5%. Inflation: 2.5%. Unemployment: 20% (2012 est.). Arable land: 44.06%. Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca). Labor force: 233,500 (2011 est.): agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (1996). Industries: tourism, perfume distillation. Natural resources: negl. Exports: $19.7 million (2011 est.): vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra. Imports: $208.8 million (2013 est.): rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment. Major trading partners: France, Singapore, Turkey, Kenya, UAE, India, Netherlands, Pakistan (2012).

    Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 24,000 (2012); mobile cellular: 250,000 (2012). Broadcast media: 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 (2007). Internet hosts: 14 (2012). Internet users: 24,300 (2009).

    Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 880 km; paved: 673 km; unpaved: 207 km (2002 est.). Ports and harbors: Moroni, Moutsamoudou. Airports: 4 (2013 est.).

    International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces were called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001.

    Major sources and definitions

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