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Compare Comoros (2002) - French Guiana (2001)

Compare Comoros (2002) z French Guiana (2001)

 Comoros (2002)French Guiana (2001)
 ComorosFrench Guiana
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 (overseas department of France)
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.9% (male 132,013; female 131,282)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 164,245; female 168,793)


65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,588; female 9,461) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
30.47% (male 27,669; female 26,428)

15-64 years:
64.05% (male 61,457; female 52,266)

65 years and over:
5.48% (male 4,937; female 4,805) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry
Airports 4 (2001) 11 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
Area total: 2,170 sq km


land: 2,170 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
91,000 sq km

land:
89,150 sq km

water:
1,850 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Indiana
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 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. First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
Birth rate 39.01 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 22.02 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $27.6 million


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues:
$225 million

expenditures:
$390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
Capital Moroni Cayenne
Climate tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 340 km 378 km
Constitution 23 December 2001


note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on 20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; the GUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name conventional long form: Union of the Comoros


conventional short form: Comoros


local long form: Union des Comores


local short form: Comores
conventional long form:
Department of Guiana

conventional short form:
French Guiana

local long form:
none

local short form:
Guyane
Currency Comoran franc (KMF) French franc (FRF); euro (EUR)
Death rate 9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $225 million $1.2 billion (1988)
Dependency status - overseas department of France
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)


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 and 223-2711


FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699
none (overseas department of France)
Disputes - international claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from Comoros again after recent military coup Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
Economic aid - recipient $10 million (2001 est.) $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, 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. 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. The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
Electricity - consumption 17.67 million kWh (2000) 409.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 19 million kWh (2000) 440 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 89%


hydro: 11%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

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


highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Environment - current issues soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation NA
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 Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Exchange rates Comoran francs per US dollar - 557.09 (January 2002), 549.78 (2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997)


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
Euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - AZALI Assoumani became president on 6 May 1999 after a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999; on 16 January 2002, President AZALI resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; during that time, Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO served as interim president; AZALI Assoumani sworn in as president on 26 May 2002


head of government: Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO (since NA November 2000); note - on 16 January 2002, President AZALI resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president and Djaffar SALIM interim deputy prime minister


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with 75% of the vote
chief of state:
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997)

head of government:
President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
Exports $35.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $155 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
Exports - partners France 46%, US 18%, Singapore 18%, Germany 9% (1999) France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
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 the flag of France is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $424 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 40%


industry: 4%


services: 56% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $710 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1% (2001 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 12 10 S, 44 15 E 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Geography - note important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel mostly an unsettled wilderness
Highways total: 880 km


paved: 673 km


unpaved: 207 km (1996)
total:
1,817 km

paved:
817 km

unpaved:
1,000 km (1998)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs - small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Imports $44.9 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $625 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals
Imports - partners France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 7%, Pakistan 4% (1999) France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997)
Independence 6 July 1975 (from France) none (overseas department of France)
Industrial production growth rate -2% (1999 est.) NA%
Industries tourism, perfume distillation construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Infant mortality rate 81.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.5% (2001 est.) 2.5% (1992)
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, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) FZ, WCL, WFTU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 20 sq km (1993 est.)
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) Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Labor force 144,500 (1996 est.) 58,800 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
1,183 km

border countries:
Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Land use arable land: 34.98%


permanent crops: 17.94%


other: 47.08% (1998 est.)
arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
90%

other:
10% (1996 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) French
Legal system French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code French legal system
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 (42 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 April 2003)


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 the opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in the opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:
General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2

note:
one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PSG 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 60.79 years


male: 58.56 years


female: 63.09 years (2002 est.)
total population:
76.3 years

male:
72.97 years

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


total population: 57.3%


male: 64.2%


female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
83%

male:
84%

female:
82% (1982 est.)
Location Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Map references Africa South America
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 139,779 GRT/205,369 DWT


ships by type: cargo 6


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Malta 1, Pakistan 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
none (2000 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches Comoran Security Force French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6 million (FY01) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3% (FY01) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 145,509 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
49,495 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 86,455 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
32,052 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 6 July (1975) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun: Comoran(s)


adjective: Comoran
noun:
French Guianese (singular and plural)

adjective:
French Guianese
Natural hazards cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Natural resources NEGL bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Net migration rate NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 10.14 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] Guianese Socialist Party or PSG [Antoine KARAM]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Roland HO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE] (may be a subset of PSG); Walwari Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 614,382 (July 2002 est.) 177,562 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 60% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.99% (2002 est.) 2.74% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001) AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998)
Radios 90,000 (1997) 104,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km (1995)
Religions Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% Roman Catholic
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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.13 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
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:
NA

domestic:
fair open wire and microwave radio relay system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 7,000 (2000) 47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA NA
Television broadcast stations NA 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Total fertility rate 5.26 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (1996 est.) 21.4% (1998)
Waterways none 3,300 km navigable by native craft

note:
460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers
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