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Compare Comoros (2002) - Vanuatu (2003)

Compare Comoros (2002) z Vanuatu (2003)

 Comoros (2002)Vanuatu (2003)
 ComorosVanuatu
Administrative divisions 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
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: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)


15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Airports 4 (2001) 30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


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


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1524 to 2437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 27


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Area total: 2,170 sq km


land: 2,170 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 12,200 sq km


land: 12,200 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes more than 80 islands
Area - comparative slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Connecticut
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. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980.
Birth rate 39.01 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 24.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $27.6 million


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $94.4 million


expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)
Capital Moroni Port-Vila
Climate tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Coastline 340 km 2,528 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
30 July 1980
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: Republic of Vanuatu


conventional short form: Vanuatu


former: New Hebrides
Currency Comoran franc (KMF) vatu (VUV)
Death rate 9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 8.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $225 million $68.6 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
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
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN
Disputes - international claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from Comoros again after recent military coup Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
Economic aid - recipient $10 million (2001 est.) $45.8 million (1995)
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 based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. A severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Another powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by a tsunami. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of foreign aid.
Electricity - consumption 17.67 million kWh (2000) 40.42 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 19 million kWh (2000) 43.46 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 89%


hydro: 11%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
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: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Environment - current issues soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; 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: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders
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
vatu per US dollar - 139.2 (2002), 145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998)
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 Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Edward Nipake NATAPEI (since 13 April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since NA)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament


elections: president elected for a four-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 2 August 2002 (next to be held NA 2003)


election results: Father John BANI elected president on second vote (24 March 1999) after the first (17 March 1999) did not have any candidate with the required two-thirds majority; percent of electoral college vote - NA%
Exports $35.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners France 46%, US 18%, Singapore 18%, Germany 9% (1999) India 32.5%, Thailand 22.8%, South Korea 10.5%, Indonesia 6.3%, Japan 4.9% (2002)
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 two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
GDP purchasing power parity - $424 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 40%


industry: 4%


services: 56% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 26%


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $710 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1% (2001 est.) -0.3% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 10 S, 44 15 E 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Geography - note important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
Highways total: 880 km


paved: 673 km


unpaved: 207 km (1996)
total: 1,070 km


paved: 256 km


unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $44.9 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 7%, Pakistan 4% (1999) Australia 22.1%, Japan 19.2%, New Zealand 10.1%, Singapore 8.1%, Fiji 6.6%, Taiwan 5%, India 5% (2002)
Independence 6 July 1975 (from France) 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
Industrial production growth rate -2% (1999 est.) 1% (1997 est.)
Industries tourism, perfume distillation food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Infant mortality rate 81.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 58.11 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.5% (2001 est.) 3.2% (2001 est.)
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) ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
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) Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force 144,500 (1996 est.) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 34.98%


permanent crops: 17.94%


other: 47.08% (1998 est.)
arable land: 2.46%


permanent crops: 7.38%


other: 90.16% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages
Legal system French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
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 Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 2 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 15, VP 14, VRP 3, MPP 2, other and independent 18; note - political party associations are fluid


note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Life expectancy at birth total population: 60.79 years


male: 58.56 years


female: 63.09 years (2002 est.)
total population: 61.71 years


male: 60.28 years


female: 63.21 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: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 53%


male: 57%


female: 48% (1979 est.)
Location Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references Africa Oceania
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin


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.)
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,463 GRT/1,552,813 DWT


ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 5, combination bulk 3, container 3, liquefied gas 2, multi-function large-load carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 7, vehicle carrier 5


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 3, Canada 2, China 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4, Netherlands 1, NZ 5, Panama 1, Poland 1, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 2, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Comoran Security Force no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)
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.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 86,455 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 6 July (1975) Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Nationality noun: Comoran(s)


adjective: Comoran
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)


adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Natural hazards cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Natural resources NEGL manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Net migration rate NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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] Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Dinh Van THAN]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 614,382 (July 2002 est.) 199,414 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 60% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.99% (2002 est.) 1.61% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001) AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios 90,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)
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: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 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: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 7,000 (2000) 5,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 310 (2000)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (2002)
Terrain volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Total fertility rate 5.26 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (1996 est.) NA%
Waterways none none
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