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Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2003) - Comoros (2003)

Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2003) z Comoros (2003)

 Turks and Caicos Islands (2003)Comoros (2003)
 Turks and Caicos IslandsComoros
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) 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: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094)


15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848)


65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 136,060; female 135,277)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 169,121; female 173,822)


65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,863; female 9,805) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Airports 8 (2002) 4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
-
Area total: 430 sq km


land: 430 sq km


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


land: 2,170 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Background The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory. 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 May 26, 2002.
Birth rate 23.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 38.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $47 million


expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-98 est.)
revenues: $27.6 million


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) Moroni
Climate tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Coastline 389 km 340 km
Constitution introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988 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
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros


conventional short form: Comoros


local long form: Union des Comores


local short form: Comores
Currency US dollar (USD) Comoran franc (KMF)
Death rate 4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $232 million (2000 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) 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
Disputes - international none claims French-administered Mayotte
Economic aid - recipient $4.1 million (1997) $10 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in 2002 but appeared to be picking up at yearend. 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.
Electricity - consumption 4.65 million kWh (2001) 19.78 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 5 million kWh (2001) 21.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 90.6%


hydro: 9.4%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater 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 black 90%, mixed, European, or north American 10% Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.78 (1999), 442.46 (1998)


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 1953), represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)


head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor
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
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Exports - partners US, UK France 32.4%, Germany 19.4%, US 17.6%, Singapore 11.5%, Netherlands 6.5% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus 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
GDP purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $441 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 40%


industry: 4%


services: 56% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.9% (2000 est.) 2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 45 N, 71 35 W 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Geography - note about 40 islands (eight inhabited) important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Highways total: 121 km


paved: 24 km


unpaved: 97 km (2000)
total: 880 km


paved: 673 km


unpaved: 207 km (1999 est)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe -
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners US, UK France 34.3%, South Africa 12%, Japan 6.1%, Kenya 5.9%, UAE 5.8%, Mauritius 4.9%, Thailand 4.6% (2002)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 6 July 1975 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% -2% (1999 est.)
Industries tourism, offshore financial services tourism, perfume distillation
Infant mortality rate total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 79.51 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 88.32 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 70.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (1995) 3.5% (2001 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau) ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 14 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme 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 4,848 (1990 est.) 144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services agriculture 80%
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 2.33%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.67% (1998 est.)
arable land: 34.98%


permanent crops: 17.94%


other: 47.08% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official) Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Legal system based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5
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, where held on 1 and 8 December 1996; the next elections for the Assembly of the Union were scheduled to be held in April 2003 but have yet to occur
Life expectancy at birth total population: 74 years


male: 71.82 years


female: 76.3 years (2003 est.)
total population: 61.18 years


male: 58.92 years


female: 63.5 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 99%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 56.5%


male: 63.6%


female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti 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
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 432,132 GRT/796,734 DWT


ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 2


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Malta 1, Pakistan 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Comoran Security Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 3% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 150,079 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 89,090 (2003 est.)
National holiday Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Nationality noun: none


adjective: none
noun: Comoran(s)


adjective: Comoran
Natural hazards frequent hurricanes cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Natural resources spiny lobster, conch NEGL
Net migration rate 12.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
People - note destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US -
Political parties and leaders People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN] 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 19,350 (July 2003 est.) 632,948 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 60% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 3.14% (2003 est.) 2.96% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Grand Turk, Providenciales Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Radio broadcast stations AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990) Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (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: 0.9 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: fair cable and radiotelephone services


domestic: NA


international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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 3,000 (1994) 7,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1994) NA
Television broadcast stations 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997) NA
Terrain low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Total fertility rate 3.15 children born/woman (2003 est.) 5.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 10% (1997 est.) 20% (1996 est.)
Waterways none none
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