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National Map
Of |
Comoros |
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National Flag
Of |
Comoros |
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Flag Description:
four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and
blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist;
centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the
convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed
stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the
crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent
the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja,
Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France,
but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color
green are traditional symbols of Islam
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Comoros |
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National Anthem
Of |
Comoros |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Comoros |
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Background:
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Unstable
Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since
gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the
islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their
independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col.
AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the
secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement
named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters
approved a new constitution and presidential elections
took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the
archipelago elected its own president and a new union
president took office in May of 2002. |
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Location:
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Southern
Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the
Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between
northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique |
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Geographic coordinates:
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12 10 S,
44 15 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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340 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical
marine; rainy season (November to May) |
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Terrain:
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volcanic
islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low
hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m |
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Natural resources:
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NEGL |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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cyclones
possible during rainy season (December to April); Le
Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil
degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on
slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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important
location at northern end of Mozambique Channel |
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Population:
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671,247
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 42.8% (male 144,075/female 143,175)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 179,541/female 184,488)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,407/female 10,561)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
18.61 years
male: 18.35 years
female: 18.87 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.91%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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37.52
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.4
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
74.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 61.96 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 64.33 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.09
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.12%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran |
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Ethnic groups:
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Antalote,
Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava |
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Religions:
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Sunni
Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% |
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Languages:
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Arabic
(official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of
Swahili and Arabic) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Union des Comores
local short form: Comores |
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Government type:
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independent republic |
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Capital:
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Moroni
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Administrative divisions:
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3
islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and
Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four
municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and
Moutsamoudou |
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Independence:
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6 July
1975 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 6 July (1975) |
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Constitution:
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23
December 2001 |
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Legal system:
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French
and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May
2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed
president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to
run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime
Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim
president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when
BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and
Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of
state and the head of government
head of government: President AZALI Assoumani
(since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI
was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his
position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential
elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was
appointed interim president until replaced again by
AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of
External Defense and Territorial Security; the president
is both the chief of state and the head of government
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 April 2002 (next to be held
April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president;
note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he
was sworn into office in May 2002
election results: President AZALI Assoumani
elected president with 75% of the vote |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies
are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies
and the 18 by universal suffrage; deputies serve for
five years);
elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next
to be held NA 2009)
election results: NA |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the
president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly,
one elected by the Council of each island, and others
are former presidents of the republic) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Forces
pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. Abdourazak
ABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN
(alliance of 12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa
Said CHEIKH]; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ
(Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed RACHID]; Movement
des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [Mahamoud MRADABI];
Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan
separatist movement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la
Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF];
Movement pour le Socialisme et la Democratie or MSD
(splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; Parti Comorien
pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE];
Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party
of the government) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP,
AfDB, AMF, AU, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
(observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador
to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the
UN)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent
Mission of the Union of the Comoros to the United
Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711
FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US
does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to
Mauritius is accredited to Comoros |
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Flag description:
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four
equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and
blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist;
centered within the triangle is a white crescent with
the convex side facing the hoist and four white,
five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between
the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the
four stars represent the four main islands of the
archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a
territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by
Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color green are
traditional symbols of Islam |
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Economy - overview:
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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% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force,
and provides most of the exports. The country is not
self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main
staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government
- which is hampered by internal political disputes - is
struggling to upgrade education and technical training,
privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve
health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and
reduce the high population growth rate. Increased
foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual
GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000
Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$441
million (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2% (2002
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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144,500
(1996 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 80% |
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Unemployment rate:
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20% (1996
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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60% (2002
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.5%
(2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures
of NA (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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vanilla,
cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas,
cassava (tapioca) |
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Industries:
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tourism,
perfume distillation |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-2% (1999
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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23.84
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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22.17
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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700
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$28
million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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vanilla,
ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra |
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Exports - partners:
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US 43.8%,
France 18.6%, Singapore 16.5%, Turkey 4.8%, Germany 4.5%
(2004) |
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Imports:
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$88
million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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rice and
other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment |
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Imports - partners:
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France
23.5%, South Africa 11.1%, Kenya 7.5%, UAE 7.2%, Italy
4.9%, Pakistan 4.7%, Mauritius 4.2%, Singapore 4.1%
(2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$232
million (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$10
million (2001 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Comoran
franc (KMF) |
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Currency code:
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KMF |
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Exchange rates:
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Comoran
francs (KMF) per US dollar - 396.21 (2004), 435.9
(2003), 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001), 533.98 (2000)
note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at
a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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13,200
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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2,000
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio
relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and
microwave radio relay
international: country code - 269; HF
radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM
4, shortwave 1 (2001) |
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Radios:
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90,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA |
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Televisions:
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1,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.km |
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Internet hosts:
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11 (2003)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2000)
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Internet users:
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5,000
(2003) |
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Highways:
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total:
880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1999 est) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Mayotte,
Moutsamoudou |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
79 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 452,801 GRT/681,343 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 55, chemical
tanker 1, container 1, livestock carrier 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated
cargo 5, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 35 (Bulgaria 1, Germany 1, Greece
7, India 1, Jordan 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 3, Nigeria 1,
Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Philippines 1, Russia 2, Syria 3,
Turkey 6, Ukraine 4, United Kingdom 1) (2005) |
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Airports:
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4 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Comoran
Security Force |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 138,940 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 98,792 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$11.6
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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3% (2004)
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Disputes - international:
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claims
French-administered Mayotte |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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