Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975.

In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. Azali seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord.

In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002.

Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May 2002.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 711,417 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 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.)

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Median age: total: 18.7 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 2.84% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 36.35 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.007 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.974 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.864 male(s)/female total population: 0.985 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 70.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 78.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.73 years male: 60.37 years female: 65.15 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 4.97 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.12% (2001 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Nationality: noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

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Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

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Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

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Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.5% male: 63.6% female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.275 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $402 million (2005 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2005 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $600 (2005 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2001 est.)

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Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20%

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Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)

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Population below poverty line: 60% (2002 est.)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2005 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $27.6 million expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)

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Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

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Industries: fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

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Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1999 est.)

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Electricity - production: 19 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 17.67 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004)

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Oil - consumption: 720 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Current account balance: -$17 million (2005 est.)

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Exports: $34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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Exports - commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra

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Exports - partners: Netherlands 35.7%, France 18.2%, Italy 12.7%, Singapore 7.8%, Turkey 4.9%, US 4.5% (2006)

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Imports: $115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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Imports - commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment

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Imports - partners: France 25.1%, UAE 10%, South Africa 6.5%, Pakistan 6.4%, Kenya 5.1%, China 4.8%, India 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2006)

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Debt - external: $232 million (2000 est.)

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Economic aid - recipient: $24 million (2003 est.)

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Currency (code): Comoran franc (KMF)

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Exchange rates: Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 392.03 (2006), 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003), 522.74 (2002) note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

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Fiscal year: calendar year