Capital

Komoren

name: Moroni

geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: Moroni derives from "mroni," which means "at the river" in Shingazidja, the Comorian language spoken on Grande Comore (N'gazidja)

Citizenship

Komoren

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Legal system

Komoren

mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law

Suffrage

Komoren

18 years of age; universal

Area

Komoren

total: 2,235 sq km

land: 2,235 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Land use

Komoren

agricultural land: 84.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 46.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 29.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 8.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 1.4% (2018 est.)

other: 14.2% (2018 est.)

Location

Komoren

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

Age structure

Komoren

0-14 years: 33.45% (male 148,485/female 148,651)

15-64 years: 62% (male 264,023/female 286,805)

65 years and over: 4.55% (2023 est.) (male 17,696/female 22,718)

Birth rate

Komoren

22.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Komoren

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Komoren

Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; similar to Swahili) (Comorian)

Life expectancy at birth

Komoren

total population: 67.5 years (2023 est.)

male: 65.2 years

female: 69.9 years

Major urban areas - population

Komoren

62,000 MORONI (capital) (2018)

Median age

Komoren

total: 22.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 21.6 years

female: 22.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Komoren

23 years (2012 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Komoren

-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Komoren

the capital city of Maroni, located on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, of the three islands that comprise Comoros, it is Anjouan that is the most densely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

Komoren

1.34% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Komoren

2.69 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Komoren

urban population: 30.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Komoren

2.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Komoren

total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 11 years (2014)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Komoren

-6.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Komoren

-0.25% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Komoren

219,900 (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Komoren

42.4% (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

Komoren

9.45% (2021 est.)

9.22% (2020 est.)

8.08% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Komoren

32.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

27.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Komoren

1% (2017 est.)

1.8% (2016 est.)

Exports

Komoren

$139.575 million (2021 est.)

$68.937 million (2020 est.)

$142.21 million (2019 est.)

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - partners

Komoren

France 32%, India 23%, Germany 10%, Turkey 9%, Madagascar 7% (2019)

Imports

Komoren

$407 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$344 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$353 million (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Komoren

China 22%, United Arab Emirates 16%, France 11%, Pakistan 9%, India 6% (2019)

Airports

Komoren

4 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Komoren

total: 1,066 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Komoren

total: 221,400 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 27% (2021 est.)

Roadways

Komoren

total: 880 km (2002)

paved: 673 km (2002)

unpaved: 207 km (2002)

Telephones - fixed lines

Komoren

total subscriptions: 7,431 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Komoren

total subscriptions: 853,449 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Komoren

claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel