NationalityComoran(s) |
Ethnic CompositionAntalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava |
Religious Composition
| Sunni Muslim |
98% |
| Roman Catholic |
2% |
|
Languages SpokenArabic (official), French (official), Comoran /
Shingazidja (a blend of Swahili, French and
Arabic) |
Education and LiteracyThe adult literacy rates stands at 57.3 percent. |
Labor ForceTotal:
144,500 (1996 est.)
By occupation
(as a GDP percentage):
| Agriculture |
80% |
| Other |
20% |
|
Geography |
Land Mass Total837 sq mi (2,170 sq km) |
Land837 sq mi (2,170 sq km) |
Water0 sq mi (0 sq km) |
Land Boundaries0 mi (0 km) |
Coastline211 mi (340 km) |
Maritime claimExclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm |
Climate/WeatherTropical marine; rainy season (November to May). |
TerrainVolcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low
hills. |
Elevation extremesLowest:
Indian Ocean 0 ft (0 m)
Highest:
Le Kartala 7,742 ft (2,360 m) |
Natural ResourcesNegligible |
Land use
| Arable land |
35% |
| Permanent crops |
18% |
| Other |
47% |
(1998) |
Natural hazardsCyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le
Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano. |
Environment - current issuesSoil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on
slopes without proper terracing; deforestation. |
Geography NoteImportant location at northern end of Mozambique Channel. |
Demographics |
Population614,382 (July 2002) |
Age structure
| 0-14 years: |
42.9% |
Male: 132,013 |
Female: 131, 282 |
| 15-64 years: |
54.2% |
Male: 164,245 |
Female: 168,793 |
| 65 years and over: |
2.9% |
Male: 8,588 |
Female: 9,461 |
|
Growth Rate2.99% (2002) |
Life Expectancy60.79 years (2002)
female: 63.09 years
male: 58.56 years |
GDP Per CapitaPurchasing power parity
US$710 (2001) |
Infant Mortality81.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002) |
Sex ratio
| At birth: |
1.03 male(s)/female |
| Under 15 years: |
1.01 male(s)/female |
| 15-64 years: |
0.97 male(s)/female |
| 65 years and over: |
0.91 male(s)/female |
| Total population: |
0.99 male(s)/female |
|
Net migration rateNEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002) |
Economy & Trade |
| One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of
three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a
young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural
resources. The low educational level of the labor force
contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high
unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and
technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting,
and forestry, contributes 40 percent to GDP, employs 80
percent of the labor force, and provides most of the
exports. The country is, however, not self-sufficient in
food production; and rice, the main staple, accounts for the
bulk of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade
education and technical training, to privatize commercial and
industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to
diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high
population growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential
if the goal of 4 percent annual GDP growth is to be met.
Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.
Comoran GDP growth actually went negative (-1.1 percent) in
2000 but recovered to a none too spectacular 1 percent in
2001. By 2002 this had inched up to 1.2 percent, and
growth is expected to stay in the 1 to 2 percent range for
the foreseeable future. |
Unemployment20% (1996) |
Inflation Rate3.5% (2001) |
IndustriesTourism, perfume distillation |
ExportsUS$35.3 million (f.o.b., 2001) |
Imports$44.9 million (f.o.b., 2001) |
Total TradePurchasing power parity
GDP US$424 million (2001) |
Top Export PartnersFrance 46%, US 18%, Singapore 18%, Germany 9% (1999) |
Top Import PartnersFrance 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 7%, Pakistan 4% (1999)
|
Top ExportsVanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra. |
Top ImportsRice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment. |
IndustriesTourism, perfume distillation |
Debt - external$225 million (yearend 2000) |
Economic aidRecipient: US$10 million (2001) |
Fiscal Year:Calendar year. |
Business Workweek
|
| |
Monday - Friday |
Saturday -
Sunday |
| Offices |
Monday through Thursday 7:30a.m. to 2:30p.m.; Friday
7:30a.m. to 11a.m. |
Saturday 7:30a.m. to
noon. |
| Retail |
Open every day, but closed between noon and 3
p.m. |
See Monday-Friday |
| Banks |
Monday through Thursday 8a.m. to 2p.m.; and Friday
8a.m. to 11a.m. |
Closed |
| Government |
Monday through Thursday 7:30a.m. to noon and 3p.m.
to 5:30p.m.; Friday 7:30a.m. to 11a.m. |
Saturday 7:30a.m. to
noon. |
|
Holidays |
Official Holidays
| Holidays |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
| Anniversary of the Death of President
Said Mohammad Cheikh |
March 18 |
March 18 |
March 18 |
| Labor Day |
May 1 |
May 1 |
May 1 |
| Anniversary of the Organization of
African Unity |
May 25 |
May 14 |
May 2 |
| Anniversary of the Death of President Ali
Soilih |
May 29 |
May 25 |
May 25 |
| Independence Day |
July 6 |
July 6 |
July 6 |
| Anniversary of the Death of President
Ahmed Abdallah |
November 26 |
November 26 |
November 26 |
| Christmas Day¹ |
December 25 |
December 25 |
December 25 |
| ¹ |
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus
Christ. In A.D.320, Pope Julius I fixed the date at
December 25 based on the Gregorian calendar. The Orthodox
church calculates Christmas using the Julian calendar and
celebrates 13 days later on January 7. |
|
