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Compare Christmas Island (2003) - Comoros (2001)

Compare Christmas Island (2003) z Comoros (2001)

 Christmas Island (2003)Comoros (2001)
 Christmas IslandComoros
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Age structure 0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
0-14 years:
42.81% (male 127,955; female 127,267)

15-64 years:
54.26% (male 159,560; female 163,949)

65 years and over:
2.93% (male 8,326; female 9,145) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products NA vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Airports 1 (2002) 4 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
total:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


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

land:
2,170 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. 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 has pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through the 2000 Fomboni Accord, a confederal arrangement that the Organization of African Unity has yet to recognize.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 39.52 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues:
$48 million

expenditures:
$53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Capital The Settlement Moroni
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Coastline 80 km 340 km
Constitution NA 20 October 1996
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form:
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

conventional short form:
Comoros

local long form:
Republique Federale Islamique des Comores

local short form:
Comores
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) Comoran franc (KMF)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 9.35 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $NA $197 million (1997 est.)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission:
Deputy Permanent Representative Mahmoud Mohamed ABOUD (acting)

chancery:
(temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

telephone:
[1] (212) 972-8010

FAX:
[1] (212) 983-4712
Disputes - international none claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from Comoros
Economic aid - recipient $NA $28.1 million (1997)
Economy - overview Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003. 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, is the leading sector of the economy. It 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 is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued 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.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 15.8 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production NA kWh 17 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: NA%


hydro: NA%


nuclear: NA%


other: NA%
fossil fuel:
88.24%

hydro:
11.76%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Le Kartala 2,360 m
Environment - current issues NA 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
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998) Comoran francs per US dollar - 524.41 (January 2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996)

note:
prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, 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 the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
chief of state:
President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999

head of government:
Prime Minister Hamada MADI (since late November 2000)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president

note:
President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; but elections, promised for spring 2000, were not held

election results:
results of the last presidential election before the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3%
Exports $NA $7.9 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities phosphate vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Exports - partners Australia, NZ France 50%, Germany 25% (1998)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; 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 design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $419 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture:
40%

industry:
4%

services:
56% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $720 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 0.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Highways total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
total:
880 km

paved:
673 km

unpaved:
207 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports $NA $55.1 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities consumer goods rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners principally Australia France 38%, Pakistan 13%, South Africa 8%, Kenya 8% (1998)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 6 July 1975 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% -2% (1999 est.)
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Infant mortality rate total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
84.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 3.5% (1999)
International organization participation none ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court 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 NA 144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) agriculture 80%
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
arable land:
35%

permanent crops:
10%

permanent pastures:
7%

forests and woodland:
18%

other:
30% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)


elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats: five from each island); members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April 1999

elections:
Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA)

election results:
Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1

note:
the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
total population:
60.41 years

male:
58.2 years

female:
62.68 years (2001 est.)
Literacy NA definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
57.3%

male:
64.2%

female:
50.4% (1995 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Map references Southeast Asia Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 12 NM


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,122 GRT/29,817 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Comoran Security Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
141,120 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
83,920 (2001 est.)
National holiday NA Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun:
Comoran(s)

adjective:
Comoran
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Natural resources phosphate, beaches NEGL
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders none Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Ali Bazi SELIM]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 433 (July 2003 est.) 596,202 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate -9% (2003 est.) 3.02% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 90,000 (1997)
Railways 24 km to serve phosphate mines 0 km
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Sex ratio NA (2003 est.) 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:
0.91 male(s)/female

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
general assessment:
sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations

domestic:
HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay

international:
HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
Telephones - main lines in use NA 6,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA NA
Television broadcast stations NA 0 (1998)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman (2003 est.) 5.32 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 20% (1996 est.)
Waterways none none
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