Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
Jah-Jah.pl / Index countries / Comoros (2004) - Tonga (2003) / Compare countries
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Comoros (2004) - Tonga (2003)

Compare Comoros (2004) z Tonga (2003)

 Comoros (2004)Tonga (2003)
 ComorosTonga
Administrative divisions 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou 3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.8% (male 140,083; female 139,245)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 174,216; female 179,050)


65 years and over: 3% (male 9,136; female 10,171) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 21,085; female 20,265)


15-64 years: 57.6% (male 30,785; female 31,532)


65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,973; female 2,501) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Airports 4 (2003 est.) 6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


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


land: 2,170 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 748 sq km


land: 718 sq km


water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC four times the size of Washington, DC
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 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. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president was sworn in on 26 May 2002. The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Birth rate 38 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 24.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $27.6 million


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $39.9 million


expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Capital Moroni Nuku'alofa
Climate tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline 340 km 419 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
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
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: Kingdom of Tonga


conventional short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands
Currency Comoran franc (KMF) pa'anga (TOP)
Death rate 8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $232 million (2000 est.) $57.5 million (June 2001)
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 Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)


chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Union 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
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU


chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022


telephone: [1] (917) 369-1136


FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024


consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Disputes - international claims French-administered Mayotte none
Economic aid - recipient $10 million (2001 est.) Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
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 - which is hampered by internal political disputes - 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. Tonga has a small, open economy with a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services.
Electricity - consumption 19.78 million kWh (2001) 25.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 21.27 million kWh (2001) 27.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - 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: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Environment - current issues soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
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, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Exchange rates Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 435.9 (2003), 522.741 (2002), 549.779 (2001), 533.982 (2000), 461.775 (1999)


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
pa'anga per US dollar NA (2002), 2.12 (2001), 1.76 (2000), 1.6 (1999), 1.49 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government


head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government


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 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president; note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworn into office in May 2002


election results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with 75% of the vote
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)


head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU (since NA January 2001)


cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the monarch, consists of 12 members


note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the Cabinet, and two governors


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners France 46.9%, Germany 18.8%, US 12.5% (2003) Japan 43.2%, US 41.2%, Greece 4% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
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 red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
GDP purchasing power parity - $441 million (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 40%


industry: 4%


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


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) 3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 10 S, 44 15 E 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Geography - note important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
Highways total: 880 km


paved: 673 km


unpaved: 207 km (1999 est)
total: 680 km


paved: 184 km


unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners France 31.6%, Japan 13.7%, South Africa 10.3%, Kenya 5.1%, UAE 5.1%, Thailand 4.3% (2003) New Zealand 30.8%, Fiji 20.7%, US 14.2%, Australia 13.2%, China 6.1% (2002)
Independence 6 July 1975 (from France) 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Industrial production growth rate -2% (1999 est.) 8.6% (FY 98/99)
Industries tourism, perfume distillation tourism, fishing
Infant mortality rate total: 77.22 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 85.9 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 68.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.5% (2001 est.) 8.4% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (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 (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court)
Labor force 144,500 (1996 est.) 33,908 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 35.87%


permanent crops: 23.32%


other: 40.81% (2001)
arable land: 23.61%


permanent crops: 43.06%


other: 33.33% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) Tongan, English
Legal system French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code based on English law
Legislative branch unicameral Assembly of the Union (30 seats; half the deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the other half by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years); note - elections for the former legislature, the Federal Assembly (dissolved in 1999) were held on 1 and 8 December 1996; the next elections for the Assembly of the Union were scheduled to be held on 18 and 25 April 2004 unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)


elections: last held 7 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 70%; seats - pro-democratic 7, traditionalist 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 61.57 years


male: 59.29 years


female: 63.91 years (2004 est.)
total population: 68.88 years


male: 66.43 years


female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 56.5%


male: 63.6%


female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.5%


male: 98.4%


female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Location 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 Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references Africa Oceania
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 452,801 GRT/681,343 DWT


by type: bulk 9, cargo 31, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 4


foreign-owned: Bahamas 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Greece 7, Honduras 1, India 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 7, Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 3, Pakistan 4, Panama 2, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 4, Turkey 21, United Kingdom 1, United States 1, Yemen 2 (2004 est.)
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 250,020 GRT/350,055 DWT


ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, chemical tanker 4, container 1, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 2, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 1, Australia 4, Austria 1, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 1, Djibouti 1, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Lebanon 2, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2, Morocco 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 3, Syria 5, Ukraine 1, UAE 16, US 4 (2002 est.)
Military branches Comoran Security Force Tonga Defense Services (made up of three operational command components and two support elements, including the Royal Marines, Royal Guards, Maritime Force, a support/logistics group, and a training group), Police; note - a new air wing that will be subordinate to the Ministry of Defense is being developed
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6 million (2003) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3% (2003) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 154,843 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 91,825 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 6 July (1975) Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
Nationality noun: Comoran(s)


adjective: Comoran
noun: Tongan(s)


adjective: Tongan
Natural hazards cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Natural resources NEGL fish, fertile soil
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. Abdourazak ABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of 12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed RACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [Mahamoud MRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatist movement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et la Democratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE] there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi POHIVA, president]
Population 651,901 (July 2004 est.) 108,141 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 60% (2002 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.94% (2004 est.) 1.9% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
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: 0.9 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 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: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (1996)
Telephones - main lines in use 13,200 (2003) 8,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (2003) 302 (1996)
Television broadcast stations NA 2 (2001)
Terrain volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Total fertility rate 5.15 children born/woman (2004 est.) 3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (1996 est.) 13.3% (1996 est.)
Waterways - none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.