Comoros

National Name: Union des Comores

Geography 

Capital: Moroni
Major Town: Fomboni, Moya, Domoni
Location (geographical coordinates/latitude and longitude): 11°41'S, 43°16'E
Time Zone: EAT (UTC+3)
Size (Land and Sea): 2,170 sq km
Borders with Indian Ocean
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m; Highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
 
Politics  

Head of State: President Ahmed Abdallah M. Sambi
Form of Government: Federal Republic
Independancy (from France): July 6, 1975 
Currency: Comorian franc (KMF)

Industry 

Main Industries: Fishing, tourism, perfume distillation.
Natural resources: negl.
Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca).

Population and People  

Population: 710,960 (2007 est.)
Population density per sq mi: 849
Growth rate: 2.8%
Birth rate: 36.35 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.97 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.8/1000
Religion: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Ethnic groups / Tribes: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Average age: 0-14 years: 42.6% (male 151,920/female 150,851); 15-64 years: 54.4% (male 191,096/female 196,120); 65 years and over: 3% (male 9,933/female 11,497) (2007 est.)
Life expectancy: 62.7
Literacy (definition: age 15 and over can read and write): Total population: 56.5%; male: 63.6%, female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

• The third smallest African nation by area
• The sixth smallest African nation by population
• Its name derives from the Arabic word qamar ("moon")
• Consists of the four islands in the volcanic Comoros archipelago
• Island of Mayotte still administered by France because Mayotte was the only island in the archipelago that voted against independence from France
• Crossroads of many civilizations
• It is the only state to be a member of each of the African Union, Francophonie, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Arab League, and Indian Ocean Commission, among other international organizations
• Karthala is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world
• Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang (the essential oil of ylang-ylang is used in aromatherapy) and a large producer of vanilla
• One of the most densely populated, with an average of 275 people per km²
• 65% of the world's perfume essence comes from Comoros
• Famous for its spices, including nutmeg, cloves, pepper, basil and vanilla
• Volcanic origin
• Surrounded by coral reefs
• Capital Moroni: charming town with old, narrow, winding streets; Vendredi Mosque
• Itsandra was once the ancient capital of the island
• Mitsamiouli is known both for its good diving facilities and for having the best Comoran dancers
• Hot sulphur springs at Lac Salé
• 14th-century village at Iconi
• Waterfall at Miringoni
• Green turtle and Giant turtles
• Nzwani (Anjouan) is notable for its waterfalls and an abundant vegetation
• Mutsamudu is built in Swahili-Shirazi style, complete with 17th-century houses with carved doors, twisting alleyways, mosques and a citadel
• Perfume distilleries
• Wonderful beaches and excellent scuba-diving facilities
• Arab Quarter in Moroni with elaborately carved Swahili doors
• The lagoon on Mayotte claims to be the largest in the world
• 19th-century sugar refineries