Geography
Area: 2,171 sq. km. (838 sq. mi.); slightly less than half the size of
Delaware. Major islands--Grande Comore (1,025 sq. km.), Anjouan
(424 sq. km.), Mayotte (374 sq. km.), and Moheli (211 sq. km.).
Cities: Capital--Moroni (pop. 30,000); Mutsamudu (pop. 20,000).
Terrain: Rugged.
Climate: Tropical marine.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Comorian(s).
Population (2001 est.): 596,202. Mayotte (1990 est.)--70,000.
Annual growth rate (2001 est.): 3.02%.
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava.
Christian singles note-Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%.
Languages: Shikomoro (a Swahili-Arabic blend), Arabic, French.
Education: Attendance--60% primary, 34% secondary. Literacy--57.3%.
Health: Life expectancy--60 yrs. Infant mortality rate--84.07/1,000.
Work force (1996): 144,500. Agriculture--80%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: July 6, 1975 (Mayotte remains under French
administration).
Constitution: Adopted by referendum on December 23, 2001.
Branches: Executive--national president; regional island
presidents. Legislative--National Assembly. Judicial--traditional
Muslim and codified law from French sources.
Political parties: 17 political parties.
Suffrage: Universal adult.
Economy
GDP (purchasing power parity): $419 million.
Annual growth rate: 0.5%.
Per capita income: $720.
Agriculture (40% of GDP): Products--vanilla, cloves, perfume
essences, copra, banana, cassava, coconuts.
Services (56% of GDP): Commerce, tourism.
Industry (4% of GDP): Types--perfume distillation.
Trade: Exports (1999 est.)--$7.9 million: vanilla, cloves,
perfume essences, copra. Major markets--France, Germany. Imports
(1998 est.)--$35.84 million: rice, petroleum, meat, wheat flour,
cotton textiles, cement. Major suppliers--France 38%, Pakistan
13%, Kenya 8%, South Africa 8%.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-The Comorians inhabiting Grande Comore, Anjouan,
and Moheli (86% of the population) share African-Arab origins. Islam
is the dominant religion, and Koranic schools for children reinforce
its influence. Although Arab culture is firmly established throughout
the archipelago, a substantial minority of the citizens of Mayotte
(the Mahorais) are Catholic and have been strongly influenced by
French culture.
The most common language is Shikomoro, a Swahili dialect. French
and Arabic also are spoken. About 57% of the population is literate.
HISTORY
Over the centuries, the islands were invaded by a succession of
diverse groups from the coast of Africa, the Persian Gulf, Indonesia,
and Madagascar. Portuguese explorers visited the archipelago in 1505.
"Shirazi" Arab migrants introduced Islam at about the same
time. Between 1841 and 1912, France established colonial rule over
Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mayotte, and Moheli and placed the islands
under the administration of the governor general of Madagascar. Later,
French settlers, French-owned companies, and wealthy Arab merchants
established a plantation-based economy that now uses about one-third
of the land for export crops. After World War II, the islands became a
French overseas territory and were represented in France's National
Assembly. Internal political autonomy was granted in 1961. Agreement
was reached with France in 1973 for Comoros to become independent in
1978. On July 6, 1975, however, the Comorian parliament passed a
resolution declaring unilateral independence. The deputies of Mayotte
abstained. As a result, the Comorian Government has effective control
over only Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli. Mayotte remains under
French administration.
