Union of the Comoros

National Name: Union des Comores

President: Ahmed Abdallah Sambi (2006)

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

Population (2006 est.): 690,948 (growth rate: 2.9%); birth rate: 36.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 72.8/1000; life expectancy: 62.3; density per sq mi: 825

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Moroni (on Grande Comoro), 60,200

Monetary unit: Franc

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

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

Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Literacy rate: 57% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP: (2002 est.) $441 million; per capita $600. Real growth rate: 3%. Inflation: 3% (2005 est.). Unemployment: 20% (1996 est.). Arable land: 36%. Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca). Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.): agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%. Industries: tourism, perfume distillation. Natural resources: negl. Exports: $34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra. Imports: $115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment. Major trading partners: U.S., France, Singapore, Turkey, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, UAE, Italy, Pakistan, Mauritius (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 13,200 (2003); mobile cellular: 2,000 (2003). Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001). Television broadcast stations: n.a. Internet hosts: 11 (2003). Internet users: 5,000 (2003).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 880 km; paved: 673 km; unpaved: 207 km (1999 est.). Ports and harbors: Mayotte, Moutsamoudou. Airports: 4 (2004 est.).

International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte.

 

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