The 2008 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      Africa

      Area:

      total: 2,170 sq km land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km

      Area - comparative:

      slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

      Land boundaries:

      0 km

      Coastline:

      340 km

      Maritime claims:

      territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

      Climate:

      tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

      Terrain:

      volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

      Elevation extremes:

      lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Karthala 2,360 m

      Natural resources:

      NEGL

      Land use:

      arable land: 35.87% permanent crops: 23.32% other: 40.81% (2005)

      Irrigated land:

      NA

      Total renewable water resources:

      1.2 cu km (2003)

      Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

      total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%) per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)

      Natural hazards:

      cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

      Environment - current issues:

      soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

      Environment - international agreements:

      party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      Geography - note:

      important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

      People

       Comoros

      Population:

      731,775 (July 2008 est.)

      Age structure:

      0–14 years: 42.4% (male 155,662/female 154,520) 15–64 years: 54.6% (male 197,178/female 202,231) 65 years and over: 3% (male 10,203/female 11,981) (2008 est.)

      Median age:

      total: 18.7 years male: 18.5 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

      Population growth rate:

      2.803% (2008 est.)

      Birth rate:

      35.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

      Death rate:

      7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

      Net migration rate:

      NA (2008 est.)

      Sex ratio:

      at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

      total: 68.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 76.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 60.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth:

      total population: 63.1 years male: 60.72 years female: 65.55 years (2008 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

      4.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

      0.12% (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

      NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

      NA

      Nationality:

      noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

      Ethnic groups:

      Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

      Religions:

      Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

      Languages:

      Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

      Literacy:

      definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.5% male: 63.6% female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

      School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

      total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2004)

      Education expenditures:

      3.8% of GDP (2002)

      Government

       Comoros

      Country name:

      conventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Union des Comores local short form: Comores

      Government type:

      republic

      Capital:

      name: Moroni geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

      Administrative divisions:

      3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore, Anjouan, Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli, Moroni*, Mutsamudu*

      Independence:

      6 July 1975 (from France)

      National holiday:

      Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

      Constitution:

      23 December 2001

      Legal system:

      French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

      Suffrage:

      18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

      chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006) head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; election last held 14 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president; note - the post of prime minister has been vacant since May 2002 election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed DJAANFAMI 13.7%

      Legislative branch:

      unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by universal suffrage; to serve for five years); elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party -