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Compare Belize (2003) - Comoros (2008)

Compare Belize (2003) z Comoros (2008)

 Belize (2003)Comoros (2008)
 BelizeComoros
Administrative divisions 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo 3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore, Anjouan, Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli, Moroni*, Mutsamudu*
Age structure 0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706)


15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 42.6% (male 151,920/female 150,851)


15-64 years: 54.4% (male 191,096/female 196,120)


65 years and over: 3% (male 9,933/female 11,497) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Airports 42 (2002) 4 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 38


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 27 (2002)
-
Area total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
total: 2,170 sq km


land: 2,170 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime. Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's President Mohamed BACAR has refused to work effectively with the Union presidency. This year BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) has stepped in to assist in resolving the political crisis, including applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but the situation remains at an impasse.
Birth rate 30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 36.35 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $224 million


expenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $27.6 million


expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Belmopan name: Moroni


geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E


time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Coastline 386 km 340 km
Constitution 21 September 1981 23 December 2001
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Belize


former: British Honduras
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros


conventional short form: Comoros


local long form: Union des Comores


local short form: Comores
Currency Belizean dollar (BZD) -
Death rate 6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $475 million (2001 est.) $232 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN


embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City


mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025


telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163


FAX: [501] 30802
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN


chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636


FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888


consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
chief of mission: Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN Mohamed TOIHIRI


chancery: Mission to the US, 336 East 45th Street (2nd floor), New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637
Disputes - international Guatemala has claimed half of southern Belize; Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border despite a 2000 agreement; OAS brokered a Differendum in 2002 that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in the Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to a popular referendum claims French-administered Mayotte
Economic aid - recipient $NA $25.23 million (2005 est.)
Economy - overview In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000, 4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors. 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. The political problems caused the economy to contract in 2007. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.
Electricity - consumption 185.5 million kWh (2001) 18.6 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 199.5 million kWh (2001) 20 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 59.9%


hydro: 40.1%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment - international agreements 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
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
Ethnic groups mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Exchange rates Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999), 2 (1998) Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - NA (2007), 392.03 (2006), 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003)


note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)


head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
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%
Exports NA (2001) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Exports - partners US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002) Netherlands 35.8%, France 18.3%, Italy 12.8%, Singapore 7.8%, Turkey 5%, US 4.6% (2006)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland 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 Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)


note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 18%


industry: 24%


services: 58% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 40%


industry: 4%


services: 56% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 3.7% (2002 est.) -1% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 17 15 N, 88 45 W 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Geography - note only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Highways total: 2,872 km


paved: 488 km


unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering activity related to offshore sector -
Imports NA (2001) 709.1 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners US 35.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 6.1%, Japan 5.9%, Cuba 5.7%, UK 5.4% (2002) France 24.8%, UAE 9.9%, South Africa 6.4%, Pakistan 6.3%, Kenya 5%, China 4.8%, India 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2006)
Independence 21 September 1981 (from UK) 6 July 1975 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 4.6% (1999) -2% (1999 est.)
Industries garment production, food processing, tourism, construction fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Infant mortality rate total: 27.07 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 30.56 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 23.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 70.66 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 78.86 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 62.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.9% (2002 est.) 3% (2005 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1998 est.) NA
Judicial branch Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister) 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)
Labor force 90,000


note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.) agriculture: 80%


industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)
Land boundaries total: 516 km


border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 2.81%


permanent crops: 1.1%


other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
arable land: 35.87%


permanent crops: 23.32%


other: 40.81% (2005)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Legal system English law French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code
Legislative branch bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8
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 - NA; seats by party - CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies
Life expectancy at birth total population: 67.36 years


male: 65.19 years


female: 69.63 years (2003 est.)
total population: 62.73 years


male: 60.37 years


female: 65.15 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 94.1%


male: 94.1%


female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 56.5%


male: 63.6%


female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Location Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico 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
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM in the north, 3 NM in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 NM; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 292 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,030,141 GRT/1,499,777 DWT


ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 200, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 1, container 12, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6, Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1, Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10, Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States 4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)
total: 144 ships (1000 GRT or over) 657,755 GRT/954,498 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 101, chemical tanker 3, container 1, livestock carrier 4, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 70 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Greece 8, India 2, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 5, Norway 1, Pakistan 2, Philippines 1, Russia 9, Saudi Arabia 1, Syria 8, Turkey 8, Ukraine 13, UAE 5, US 2) (2007)
Military branches Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard) National Development Army (AND): Comoran Security Force; Comoran Federal Police (2007)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $7.7 million (FY00/01) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.87% (FY00/01) 2.8% (2006)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 66,332 (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 39,337 (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 3,046 (2003 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1981) Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Nationality noun: Belizean(s)


adjective: Belizean
noun: Comoran(s)


adjective: Comoran
Natural hazards frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Natural resources arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower NEGL
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman] Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM] NA
Population 266,440 (July 2003 est.) 711,417 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (1999 est.) 60% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 2.44% (2003 est.) 2.84% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Railways 0 km -
Religions Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist 3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000) Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.007 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.974 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.864 male(s)/female


total population: 0.985 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: above-average system


domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations; fixed-line connections only about 2 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 2 per 100 persons


domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay


international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
Telephones - main lines in use 31,000 (1997) 16,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 3,023 (1997) 16,100 (2005)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) NA
Terrain flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Total fertility rate 3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.) 4.97 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.1% (2002) 20% (1996 est.)
Waterways 825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable) -
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