Comoros

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
The archipelago of the Comoros in the Indian Ocean, composed of the islands of Anjouan, Moheli, and Grande Comore, declared independence from France on 6 July 1975.

Geography

Area
total : 2,235 sq km
land: 2,235 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Natural resources
fish

People and Society

Population
total: 900,141 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Languages
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; similar to Swahili), Comorian

Religions
Muslim 98.1% (overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, small Shia Muslim and Ahmadiyya Muslim populations), ethnic religionist 1.1%, Christian 0.6%, other 0.3% (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
1.3% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
federal presidential republic

Capital
name: Moroni

Executive branch
chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)
head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

Economy

Economic overview
small trade-based island economy; declining remittances; new structural and fiscal reforms; adverse cyclone and COVID-19 impacts; manageable debts; fragile liquidity environment; large foreign direct investment; state-owned enterprises suffering

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.092 billion (2024 est.)
$2.99 billion (2023 est.)
$2.901 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$3,600 (2024 est.)
$3,500 (2023 est.)
$3,500 (2022 est.)

Exports
$148.455 million (2023 est.)
$166.032 million (2022 est.)
$128.331 million (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Indonesia 25%, India 23%, Turkey 16%, UAE 11%, USA 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities
cloves, ships, essential oils, vanilla, scrap iron (2023)

Imports
$504.036 million (2023 est.)
$480.268 million (2022 est.)
$415.965 million (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 24%, UAE 21%, Tanzania 12%, France 7%, India 6% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, poultry, rice, flavored water, additive manufacturing machines (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.603, ranking it 152nd out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 146th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 3.561. (more information)