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Compare Comoros (2001) - Western Sahara (2003)
Compare Comoros (2001) z Western Sahara (2003)
| Comoros (2001) | Western Sahara (2003) | |
 |  | |
| Administrative divisions | 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou | none (under de facto control of Morocco) |
| Age structure | 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.) |
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) | fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) |
| Airports | 4 (2000 est.) | 11 (2002) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total:
4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2002) |
| Area | total:
2,170 sq km land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 266,000 sq km
land: 266,000 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC | about the size of Colorado |
| Background | 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. | Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. |
| Birth rate | 39.52 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) | NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Budget | revenues:
$48 million expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) |
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Capital | Moroni | none |
| Climate | tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) | hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew |
| Coastline | 340 km | 1,110 km |
| Constitution | 20 October 1996 | - |
| Country name | 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 |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara former: Spanish Sahara |
| Currency | Comoran franc (KMF) | Moroccan dirham (MAD) |
| Death rate | 9.35 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) | NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Debt - external | $197 million (1997 est.) | $NA |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros | none |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | 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 |
none |
| Disputes - international | claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from Comoros | Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties have rejected other proposals; Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds |
| Economic aid - recipient | $28.1 million (1997) | $NA |
| Economy - overview | 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. | Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. |
| Electricity - consumption | 15.8 million kWh (1999) | 83.7 million kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (1999) | 0 kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (1999) | 0 kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - production | 17 million kWh (1999) | 90 million kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel:
88.24% hydro: 11.76% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m |
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m |
| Environment - current issues | soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation | sparse water and lack of arable land |
| 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: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Ethnic groups | Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava | Arab, Berber |
| Exchange rates | 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 |
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997) |
| Executive branch | 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% |
none |
| Exports | $7.9 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) | NA (2001) |
| Exports - commodities | vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra | phosphates 62% |
| Exports - partners | France 50%, Germany 25% (1998) | Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Flag description | 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 - $419 million (2000 est.) | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture:
40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2000 est.) |
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: 40% (1996 est.) |
| GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $720 (2000 est.) | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - real growth rate | 0.5% (2000 est.) | NA% |
| Geographic coordinates | 12 10 S, 44 15 E | 24 30 N, 13 00 W |
| Geography - note | important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel | the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas |
| Highways | total:
880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1996) |
total: 6,200 km
paved: 1,350 km unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Imports | $55.1 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) | NA (2001) |
| Imports - commodities | rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment | fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs |
| Imports - partners | France 38%, Pakistan 13%, South Africa 8%, Kenya 8% (1998) | Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000) |
| Independence | 6 July 1975 (from France) | - |
| Industrial production growth rate | -2% (1999 est.) | NA% |
| Industries | tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks | phosphate mining, handicrafts |
| Infant mortality rate | 84.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) | total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.5% (1999) | NA% |
| International organization participation | 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) | none |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 1 (2000) | 1 (2000) |
| Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA sq km |
| Judicial branch | 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 | 144,500 (1996 est.) | 12,000 |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture 80% | animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% |
| Land boundaries | 0 km | total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km |
| Land use | arable land:
35% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 18% other: 30% (1993 est.) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
| Languages | Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) | Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic |
| Legal system | French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code | - |
| Legislative branch | 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:
60.41 years male: 58.2 years female: 62.68 years (2001 est.) |
total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
| Literacy | definition:
age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 64.2% female: 50.4% (1995 est.) |
definition: NA
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |
| Location | Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue |
| Merchant marine | total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,122 GRT/29,817 DWT ships by type: cargo 2 (2000 est.) |
- |
| Military branches | Comoran Security Force | - |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure | $NA | $NA |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | NA% | 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 | Independence Day, 6 July (1975) | - |
| Nationality | noun:
Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran |
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian |
| Natural hazards | cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano | hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility |
| Natural resources | NEGL | phosphates, iron ore |
| Net migration rate | NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) | - |
| Political parties and leaders | 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 | NA | none |
| Population | 596,202 (July 2001 est.) | 261,794 (July 2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
| Population growth rate | 3.02% (2001 est.) | NA% (2003 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou | Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) |
| Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) | AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios | 90,000 (1997) | - |
| Railways | 0 km | 0 km |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% | Muslim |
| Sex ratio | 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.) |
NA (2003 est.) |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed |
| Telephone system | 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 |
general assessment: sparse and limited system
domestic: NA international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco |
| Telephones - main lines in use | 6,000 (1997) | about 2,000 (1999 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | NA | 0 (1999) |
| Television broadcast stations | 0 (1998) | NA |
| Terrain | volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills | mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast |
| Total fertility rate | 5.32 children born/woman (2001 est.) | NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 20% (1996 est.) | NA% |
| Waterways | none | none |
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