Comoros

Full name of country: Union of the Comoros

Region: Africa

Official language: Arabic, French, Shikomoro

Population: 900,141 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Comoran(s) (noun), Comoran (adjective)

Land area: 2,235 sq km (863 sq miles)

Capital: Moroni

National anthem: "Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands), by Said Hachim Sidi Abderemane/Said Hachim Sidi Abderemane and Kamildine Abdallah

National holiday: Independence Day, July 6 (1975)

Population growth: 1.3% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +3

Flag: Displaying the traditional symbols of Islam (the color green and a crescent and stars), the flag of Comoros features a green triangle on the hoist side of the flag, within which is a white crescent with four white stars forming a straight line between the crescent’s tips. The green triangle is superimposed on four horizontal and equal stripes of yellow (representing Mohéli), red (Anjouan), Mayotte (white), and blue (Grande Comore). Each individual island has its own flag, in addition to the national banner.

Motto: “Unité, Justice, Progrès” (Unity, Justice, Progress)

Independence: July 6, 1975 (from France)

Government type: republic

Suffrage: universal for those eighteen years of age

Legal system: based on a mixture of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law

The Union of the Comoros is an island nation located off the southeastern coast of Africa, at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel. Its closest neighbors are Madagascar (another island nation) and the mainland African state of Mozambique. The three main islands in Comoros are Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Ndzuwani).

Comoros achieved independence from France in 1975 and claims the nearby French island of Mayotte (Maore) as Comoran territory. Since independence, the country has experienced over a dozen coups and coup attempts.

The economy, which is largely underdeveloped, is based on agriculture and tourism. The islands are a major producer of the ylang-ylang flower, which is used to make perfume. Major tourist attractions include the islands' beautiful beaches and landscapes, as well as the islands' unique mix of Arab, African, Southeast Asian, and European cultural influences.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The Comoran population represents a mix of many ethnic groups from the Middle East, mainland Africa, and the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. The mainland African peoples include the Cafres and Makoa; the Cafres were early settlers, while the Makoa descend from those historically enslaved by Arabs. Other groups include Antalote, Oimatsaha, Sakalava, Malagasy, Indians, South Africans, and Europeans. The islands' Creole population is of mixed French and local ancestry.

Historically, there was little migration from the islands, but this changed following independence. Emigration rose sharply, due to political and economic instability as well as basic overcrowding on the small islands. By the early twenty-first century, an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Comorans were living in other countries, mostly in France.

The islands' traditionally rural nature has also changed, as more people move to cities. An estimated 30.1 percent of Comorans lived in urban areas in 2023.The largest city is the capital, Moroni (estimated population 62,000 in 2018), on Grand Comore.

Arabic, French, and Shikomoro are the official languages. Shikomoro, also called Comorian, is the predominant local language, a Swahili-related language with many Arabic influences. Different dialects of Shikomoro are spoken on the various islands: Shingazidja on Grand Comore, Shindzwani on Anjouan, Shimwali on Mohéli, Shindzwani on Anjouan, and Shimaore on Mayotte. Malagasy, a language of Madagascar, is also spoken. Both the Arabic and Latin alphabets are in common use.

The official religion of Comoros is Islam. Most Comorans (about 98.1 percent) are Sunni Muslim. There are also Shia, Sufi, and Ahmadi Muslims among the other 2 percent of the population. Until 2002, the nation's official name was the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. The 2001 constitution protects religious freedom, but missionary activity is prohibited, and the government disapproves of the public practice of non-Islamic religions. The general public strongly opposes other religions and has at times persecuted the country's small Christian minority. Mayotte, which officially remains part of France, has a larger Christian minority, most of whom are Roman Catholics.

Comoran society is based on Islamic belief and law, with traditional family and gender roles, although women can and do participate in political life. Social status in general remains strongly based on pre-independence conditions, divided between the Arab elite, the main "freeborn" group, and the descendants of enslaved people.

Comoros is one of the world's least developed nations. The country was ranked 152 on the United Nations' 2022 Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Indigenous People: The islands that make up Comoros were settled by the sixth century. Although the identity of the first settlers is not clear, they are believed to have been from either Arabia, the East African mainland, or Indonesia. The Shirazi, a group of Sunni Muslim traders from East Africa who considered themselves of Persian descent, began arriving in the tenth century; a larger migration occurred in the fifteenth century, and the Shirazi established themselves as the dominant group. They also developed the islands into a major trading center, connecting East Africa with the Middle East.

Europeans, beginning with the Portuguese, arrived in the sixteenth century and helped promote both the growth of the slave trade and the local use of enslaved labor, which led to arrival of new African groups on the islands. The French, who had maintained a presence in the Indian Ocean since the seventeenth century, annexed Mayotte in the 1840s and the other islands of the archipelago in the 1880s. Slavery was abolished in 1904, but old social distinctions remained for those formerly enslaved.

Education: Public education in Comoros is a mixture of secular French and Sunni Islamic models. Islam is studied in the public schools at the lower secondary level. Prior to entering public school, many children attend Qur'anic school, where they learn the basics of the Qur'an (Islam's holy book) and classical Arabic.

Primary education lasts for six years, while lower secondary education lasts four years and upper secondary lasts three years. Girls and students in rural areas tend to receive less schooling. Lack of infrastructure and teacher shortages contribute to low educational attainment. Postsecondary education is relatively undeveloped. There were no universities in Comoros before the establishment of the University of Comoros in 2003.

The literacy rate is relatively low, at 62 percent overall, or 67 percent among males and 56.9 percent among females (2021 estimates).

Health Care: Comoros has a poor health care system, and disease is widespread. Malaria is an especially serious problem, and tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis A, and Hansen's disease are also persistent.

There are few trained physicians in Comoros, although conditions have improved since independence. International organizations have provided some medical assistance, although this remains limited.

The infant mortality rate is high, at 54.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2024 estimate). The average life expectancy at birth is 67.8 years—65.5 years for males and 70.2 years for females (2024 estimates).

Food: Comoran cuisine blends the islands' ethnic traditions, including Arab, African, Southeast Asian, and French. The main staple is rice, supplemented by coconuts, bananas, manioc, and cassava. Citrus fruits, especially mangos and papayas, are widely eaten. Meat and fish are rarely used in Comoran cooking, except among the wealthy.

Agriculture is mostly at the subsistence level, in part because of the country's relative lack of arable land. Comoros cannot supply all of its own food and relies on international assistance and imports.

Arts & Entertainment: Comoran art and culture reflects the diversity of the islands' Arab, East African, and Southeast Asian population. For example, taarab, a musical genre that blends East African and Arabic elements, is popular in Comoros.

Comoran culture remains strongly oral, in part because of the underdeveloped mass media. Modern media became to develop in the mid-1980s, with the help of the French. Comoros National TV provides television service, and there are several radio broadcast stations. There are also several newspapers published in Comoros, including Al-watwan ("home" or "motherland"). Freedom of the press is a constitutional right, though the government has often been accused of anti-press actions.

Holidays: Comoros's national holiday is Independence Day (July 6), which celebrates the country's independence from France in 1975. Islamic holidays, particularly Ramadan, are also widely observed.

Environment and Geography

Topography: All four large islands in the Comoros chain (including Mayotte) are volcanic and mountainous, and the soil cover is generally thin. Grande Comore (Ngazidja) is the largest island, with an area of 1,148 square kilometers (443 square miles). There are two volcanoes on the island, including Le Karthala, the country's highest point at 2,360 meters (7,743 feet) above sea level. The volcanoes' slopes are covered in places with lava flows.

The islands' terrain is generally rugged and soil cover is thin. There are stretches of rainforest on Mohéli, and mangrove swamps along the islands' coastal areas. The country's total coastline measures 340 kilometers (211 miles).

Natural Resources: Comoros has negligible natural resources. The soil cover is generally thin and has eroded in places due to improper agricultural techniques. ABout 46.7 percent of the land is arable according to 2018 estimates. The nation must import most of its food. Deforestation is also a significant environmental problem. The country's most important natural resource is fish from the Indian Ocean.

Plants & Animals: Despite their small size, the Comoros islands are home to many species of plants and wildlife, some of which are also found on Madagascar and on the East African mainland.

The slopes of the volcanic peaks are heavily forested, often with evergreens. Erosion is common because of the relative lack of soil cover. There are few large animal species, but many species are unique to the Comoros; these include two kinds of fruit bats. Several species are unique to Anjouan, including the Anjouan sunbird.

Conservationists are concerned about the degradation of natural habitats due to the encroachment of human settlements, cyclonic activity, and volcanism.

Climate: Comoros has a tropical maritime climate, with two main seasons (dry and wet). Climate varies dramatically between islands. Each individual island also displays distinct variations from one point to another, because of changes in elevation.

The dry season runs from October or November to April and is characterized by monsoon winds from the north, as well as the possibility of cyclones. The season is hot and humid, with average temperatures rising to around 26.6 degrees Celsius (79.9 degrees Fahrenheit).

Each year, Comoros receives around 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) of rain. The wet season runs from May to September, bringing winds from the south.

Economy

Comoros has one of the world's weakest economies and relies heavily on foreign aid and wages earned by citizens working overseas. In 2023, the country's gross domestic product (GDP; purchasing power parity) was estimated at US$2.975 billion, or US$3,500 per capita.

Industry: Industry in Comoros is largely undeveloped. The major industries are fishing, tourism, and perfume distillation.

Comoros's largest export partners include France, India, and Germany. The largest import partners include China, United Arab Emirates, and France. Comoros's main exports include cloves, essential oils, and vanilla. Tug boats and scrap vessels are also exported.

Despite the importance of ocean-borne freight, there are few ports in Comoros, and large vessels are generally unable to enter the harbors.

Agriculture: Comoros's agricultural sector accounted for almost half of the nation's GDP in 2017. Although the soil is thin, 84.4 percent of the land was used for agricultural purposes in 2018.

Most production goes into cash crops such as vanilla, cloves, and the ylang-ylang flower; the bulk of agricultural products are exported rather than consumed internally. Export crops are generally grown on plantations, a remnant of the French colonial period.

Most of the country's food supply must be imported. Comoran farmers also raise small numbers of livestock, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. Fishing is another source of hard currency.

Tourism: The nation has significant potential for visitor appeal due to its warm weather and beaches, but despite steady growth in the 2010s, the tourism industry is still relatively small and hampered by several major obstacles. Notably, internal transportation in Comoros remains poor, although it has improved. Air travel is now possible among all the islands; international flights are handled at the Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport on Grand Comore. Travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 also caused a major disruption to the tourism sector.

Government

Between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Comoros Islands were ruled by the Arab Shirazi elite, whose leaders were known as sultans. Mayotte was annexed by France in the 1840s; the other three large islands in the archipelago followed in the 1880s. Colonial rule was handled by the French authorities in Madagascar. In 1912, the French organized the islands as a single unit of administration.

After World War II, the Comoros Islands were reorganized as a French overseas department, represented in the French parliament. The islands received greater self-government in the 1950s and 1960s, including establishment of their own customs union (1952) and a territorial council (1957). A territorial referendum in 1958 was strongly in favor of staying with France. In 1961, the islands established a constitution which provided for a territorial assembly and governing council. In 1975, all the islands except Mayotte voted for independence from France.

Post-independence governments have been unstable, with one coup following another. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli seceded, but they returned in 2000 due to an agreement developed with international arbitration. Under the constitution adopted in 2001, the Comoros islands were reorganized as a federation with extensive local autonomy for the three main islands. Another secession effort on Anjouan beginning in 2007 was ended by Comoran and African Union military action.

Comoros has a national president, directly elected by absolute majority vote, and the three main islands have their own governors. The national president is both head of government and chief of state and governs with the assistance of Council of Ministers, who are appointed by the president. Presidential terms last for five years and are limited to two consecutive elections. The 2001 constitution specified that the presidency must rotate among the three islands each term. From 2001 to 2010, the president had two vice presidents, one each from the other two islands not represented by the president; then from 2011 to 2018, there were three vice presidents per term, one from each island. A controversial 2018 referendum resulted in a new constitution that abolished the presidential rotation system.

The unicameral legislature is known as the Assembly of the Union. Its thirty-three members, or deputies, serve five-year terms. Twenty-four deputies are elected by absolute majority (in two rounds if needed), and the other nine are chosen by the island assemblies. Suffrage is universal at age eighteen.

Comoros's judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court (Cour Supreme). There are tribunals, an appellate court, island village courts, and religious courts as well. The legal system is based on a mixture of French and Islamic law consolidated into a single code.

Comoros President Azali Assoumani was re-elected for a fourth term in January 2024 in a poll disputed by the opposition as "fraudulent".

Interesting Facts

• Wealthy Comoran Arabs practice a wedding custom known as the "grand marriage," which involves elaborate and expensive gift-giving. The custom is seen as a person's entry into formal society and as a prerequisite to holding high political office.
• The islands of Comoros appear as a destination in the medieval Arab legends of Sinbad, which make up part of the tales known as One Thousand and One Nights.
• In 1938 Comoran fishermen caught a coelacanth, a fish previously thought to have become extinct millions of years ago. The fish became known as a "living fossil."
• Comoros is one of the world's top exporters of ylang-ylang, a flower whose fragrance is a key ingredient in many perfumes, including the iconic Chanel No. 5.
• Dos du Dragon (Dragon’s Back) on Grande Comore is an aptly named set of rock formations jutting up along a curved peninsula and resembling the spikes on the back of that legendary creature.

Bibliography

"Comoros." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/comoros. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

"Comoros." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/comoros/. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

"Comoros Country Profile." BBC News, 19 Jan. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13229685. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

"Human Development Insights." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024 hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

“2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Comoros.” US Department of State, 2020, www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/comoros. Accessed 30 Sept. 2020.‌