about two-thirds of the way between northernMadagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
340 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le
Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:
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
Geography - note:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People Comoros
Population:
671,247 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 42.8% (male 144,075/female 143,175)
15–64 years: 54.2% (male 179,541/female 184,488)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,407/female 10,561) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.61 years
male: 18.35 years
female: 18.87 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.91% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
37.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 74.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.96 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 64.33 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili
and Arabic)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Government Comoros
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
