Comoros

Country Overview

The Union of the Comoros is an island republic in the Indian Ocean, between southeastern Africa and Madagascar. Moroni is its capital. The state administers Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Ndzuwani (Anjouan), and Mwali (Mohéli), and claims Mayotte, which remains under French administration. Independence was declared on July 6, 1975; the 2018 Constitution defines the present union's core institutions. Its economy combines agriculture, small-scale trade, services, diaspora remittances and specialized exports such as cloves, vanilla and ylang-ylang oil. ^{[4] [5] [17] [19]}

Reference status: Contemporary edition • Verified: November 5, 2026 • Each statistic identifies its underlying reference year.

Territory and data conventions: The approximately 1,861-km² area describes the three islands administered by Comoros. UNdata also publishes 2,235 km² using a four-island geographic convention that includes disputed Mayotte, which France administers. The World Bank 2025 population and GDP figures use the independent Comoros statistical unit; the 2024 UNCTAD merchandise-trade estimates are not services-inclusive. ^{[3] [2] [17] [1]}

Identity and State Formation

Official name

Union of the Comoros; Union des Comores; الاتحاد القمري. ^[4]

Common names

Comoros; the Comoro Islands; Comores in French; Ngazidja and related native-language designations vary by island.

Capital

Moroni, on Ngazidja (Grande Comore). ^{[4] [2]}

Continent / UN M49 region

Africa / Eastern Africa; an island state in the western Indian Ocean and northern Mozambique Channel. ^{[18] [2]}

Early settlement and regional history

The islands developed through migration and maritime exchange linking East Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Indian Ocean; historic sultanates emerged in several islands. ^[10]

Historic political systems

Islamic sultanates and Swahili-influenced urban centers predate modern colonial borders; the current republic has no single precolonial founding date. ^[10]

French colonial rule

France gradually established colonial authority across the islands in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; institutions and island treatment evolved over time. ^[5]

Self-government before independence

The Comoros gained increasing territorial autonomy during the late French colonial period; this was not equivalent to sovereign independence. ^[5]

Independence referendum

December 22, 1974, archipelago-wide referendum in which an overall majority supported independence; support varied sharply by island, particularly on Mayotte. ^{[5] [17]}

Independence proclaimed

July 6, 1975, from France, with independence proclaimed by representatives of the islands that became the modern Comorian state. ^[5]

Mayotte territorial issue

Mayotte remained under French administration following the independence process. Comoros claims the fourth main island; the present republic administers Ngazidja, Ndzuwani and Mwali. ^{[4] [17]}

United Nations admission

November 12, 1975. ^[6]

Federal Islamic Republic era

Political institutions were reorganized after independence; the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros was the state name from 1978 until the 2001 union settlement. ^[4]

Union constitutional settlement

The Union of the Comoros was established under the December 2001 constitutional framework, following island-level separatist crises and negotiations. ^[4]

Current constitutional framework

A new constitutional text was approved in a July 2018 referendum; the 2018 text remains the principal baseline for this profile. ^[4]

2024 presidential election

Azali Assoumani was returned to the presidency in the January 2024 vote; opposition parties disputed aspects of the election and its administration. ^{[15] [16]}

2025 parliamentary election

National Assembly elections were held in January 2025; the ruling party won 31 of 33 seats according to the African Commission’s report. ^[14]

National day

Independence Day, July 6. ^[5]

National motto

Unité – Solidarité – Développement (Unity – Solidarity – Development). ^[4]

National anthem

Umodja Wa Massiwa (Unity of the Great Islands). ^[4]

ISO 3166-1 codes

KM (alpha-2); COM (alpha-3); 174 (numeric). ^[18]

Internet country-code domain

.km

Geography and Population

Geographic position

Volcanic archipelago off southeastern Africa, between northern Madagascar and the Mozambique coast. ^[2]

Main islands administered

Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Ndzuwani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Mohéli); each has an autonomous island administration under the Union. ^[4]

Island claimed but not administered

Maore (Mayotte), administered by France and claimed by the Comorian state; the territorial question should not be mistaken for current administrative control. ^{[4] [17]}

Area: administered three-island territory

Approximately 1,861 km² (718 sq. mi.), the land-area convention used in UNCTAD’s 2024 maritime profile. ^[3]

Area: four-island claim / UN table

2,235 km² (863 sq. mi.) in UNdata’s territorial surface-area entry, reflecting a different territorial convention; this number must not be presented as the area of the administered three islands. ^{[2] [17]}

Resident population

882,847 (World Bank, 2025 population estimate; not a census count). ^[1]

UN population estimate

Approximately 883,000 (UNdata, 2025), rounded to thousands. ^[2]

Most recent cited census

758,316 in the December 15, 2017 census, as tabulated in the UN Demographic Yearbook; historical enumeration. ^[12]

Population growth

About 1.9% (World Bank estimate for 2025). ^[1]

Estimated density

Approximately 474 residents per km² of the three administered islands, calculated as 882,847 divided by 1,861 km²; not an official independent estimate. ^{[1] [3]}

Principal urban center

Moroni; Mutsamudu and Fomboni are important island towns. ^{[2] [4]}

Island geography

Ngazidja has young volcanic terrain; Ndzuwani is more deeply dissected by valleys; Mwali combines uplands, coasts and protected marine environments. ^[19]

Highest peak

Mount Karthala, an active volcano on Ngazidja, approximately 2,361 m above sea level. ^[19]

Geological setting

Volcanic island chain shaped by eruptions, steep uplands, coastal erosion and reefs. ^[19]

Coastal environment

Indian Ocean reefs, beaches, coastal lagoons and fisheries; marine habitats are vulnerable to warming, pollution and overexploitation. ^[19]

Rivers and water

Short, steep catchments and limited freshwater storage; seasonal rainfall, springs and groundwater are important, with island-level differences. ^[19]

Climate

Tropical maritime climate with humid rainy and relatively drier seasons, influenced by monsoon winds. ^[19]

Natural hazards

Tropical cyclones, intense rain, coastal flooding, landslides, drought and volcanic hazards on Ngazidja. ^{[19] [17]}

Land borders

None; all international connections are maritime or air connections, while Mayotte is separated by sea.

Time zone

East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+03:00; no regular daylight-saving time change.

Economy and International Trade

Economic classification

Small, import-dependent island economy with agriculture, fishing, trade, construction, public services and a significant overseas diaspora. ^[19]

Nominal GDP

Approximately US$1.81 billion (2025; World Bank, current U.S. dollars; rounded from the online series). ^[1]

GDP per capita

Approximately US$2,055.8 (2025; World Bank, current dollars). This is national output per person, not average wages or median income. ^[1]

Real GDP growth

3.8% in 2025 (World Bank annual series; subject to revision). ^[1]

Consumer price inflation

3.2% in 2025 (World Bank annual CPI inflation series). ^[1]

Currency

Comorian franc, ISO 4217 code KMF (symbol commonly FC); not the Central African CFA franc XAF or West African CFA franc XOF. ^{[2] [11]}

Exchange-rate arrangement

Conventional peg to the euro; approximately KMF 491.97 per €1 under the IMF-reported arrangement. ^[11]

Main economic sectors

Smallholder farming, fishing, retail and wholesale trade, transportation, construction, public administration and remittance-supported consumption. ^[19]

Agricultural products

Cloves, vanilla, ylang-ylang, coconuts, bananas, cassava and other crops; production patterns vary by island and season. ^{[19] [3]}

Role of remittances

Transfers from Comorians working abroad are an important source of household and foreign-exchange income; World Bank series report personal remittances around 20.8% of GDP in 2023. ^[1]

Merchandise exports

Approximately US$30 million in 2024 (UNCTAD maritime profile; goods only; not combined goods and services). ^[3]

Merchandise imports

Approximately US$358 million in 2024 (UNCTAD; goods only). ^[3]

Merchandise trade balance

Approximately US$328 million deficit for 2024 (exports minus imports; goods only). ^[3]

Primary merchandise exports

Cloves, aromatic/essential oils including ylang-ylang, and vanilla; values fluctuate with prices and harvest conditions. ^{[3] [19]}

Key imported goods

Food staples, refined fuels, vehicles, machinery, medicines and other manufactured consumer and capital goods. ^[19]

Export partners

Partner-reported 2024 merchandise-data ranking lists Tanzania, India, France, the United States and the United Kingdom; ranking depends on reporting basis and may change by year. ^[20]

Services sector

Trade, transport, tourism and government activity contribute to domestic services; the monetary figures for goods above must not be interpreted as services trade. ^[19]

Tourism

Nature, beaches, marine habitats, volcanic landscapes and island heritage offer tourism potential, constrained by connectivity and infrastructure. ^{[19] [9]}

Development challenges

Limited market size, dependence on imported staples and fuel, energy and transport costs, climate vulnerability and exposure to external financing and remittance conditions. ^[19]

Principal Export Categories (2024 Reference Year)

2024 merchandise-trade total: UNCTAD Maritime Profile, exports US$30 million and imports US$358 million. Commodity examples reflect longer-running export specialization and should not be interpreted as exact category shares for 2024. ^{[3] [19]}

People and Society

Official languages

Shikomor (Comorian), French and Arabic under Article 9 of the 2018 Constitution. ^[4]

National language

Shikomor, a Bantu language related to the Swahili language continuum, with island-linked speech varieties. ^[4]

Local language varieties

Shingazidja on Ngazidja, Shindzuani on Ndzuwani, Shimwali on Mwali; Shimaore is associated with Mayotte, which is French-administered. ^{[4] [17]}

French usage

Used in parts of administration, education, law, media and external relations, alongside Comorian and Arabic. ^[4]

Arabic usage

Used especially in Islamic education and worship, and in some formal or cultural contexts; fluency and everyday use differ from Shikomor. ^{[4] [7]}

State religion

Islam, with Sunni and Shafi‘i principles specified in Article 97 of the 2018 Constitution. ^[4]

Religious composition

Approximately 98% Sunni Muslim in commonly cited estimates; this is not a new 2026 census result. Smaller non-Sunni Muslim, Christian and other communities are present. ^[7]

Religious diversity

Small Shia Muslim and Christian communities and other religious minorities exist, with legal and social restrictions on public non-Sunni observance described in 2023 U.S. State Department reporting. ^[7]

Religious freedom framework

The constitution recognizes equality while prescribing Sunni Islam as the state religion; constitutional text and practical restrictions need to be distinguished. ^{[4] [7]}

Population age profile

About 36.9% under age 15 and 6.7% aged 60 or older in 2025 UNdata series; not derived from a 2025 census. ^[2]

Fertility rate

Approximately 3.8 births per woman (2025 UN demographic estimate). ^[2]

Life expectancy

Approximately 67 years at birth (World Bank 2024 series; rounded), with a female–male gap. ^{[1] [2]}

Urbanization

UNdata reports approximately 29.2% urban in its 2020 series; later values and settlement definitions may differ. ^[2]

Diaspora

Large overseas communities, particularly in France and elsewhere around the Indian Ocean, help connect families through migration and remittances. ^[19]

Culture

Comorian traditions combine East African, Malagasy, Islamic, Indian Ocean and French-influenced elements, varying substantially by island. ^[10]

Social practices

Marriage ceremonies, music, family networks, Islamic celebrations and local age-grade institutions play important roles in community life. ^[10]

Historic built heritage

Swahili-influenced medinas, palaces, public squares, mosques and stone architecture reflect sultanate history. ^[10]

Government and Institutions

Form of government

Republican union with a powerful directly elected presidency and autonomous island governments; constitutional arrangements should be distinguished from the quality of electoral competition. ^{[4] [15]}

President

Azali Assoumani, in office since May 2016 and returned in the January 2024 presidential election (status reviewed November 5, 2026). ^{[13] [15]}

Head of state

The president of the Union of the Comoros. ^{[4] [13]}

Head of government

The presidency leads the national executive; the UN protocol list identifies no prime minister in its current government entry. ^{[13] [4]}

Constitutional text

2018 Constitution of the Union of the Comoros, following the 2001 union settlement; this profile reports the 2018 constitutional baseline. ^[4]

Presidential election cycle

Five-year presidential term under the 2018 framework, with the constitutional rotation and reelection rules reorganized by that reform. ^[4]

Executive cabinet

The president and Council of Ministers exercise executive authority under the constitution. ^[4]

National legislature

Unicameral Assembly of the Union (Assemblée de l’Union). ^{[4] [14]}

Assembly seats

33 elected members for the legislature chosen in the 2025 parliamentary elections. ^[14]

2025 ruling-party result

The Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros won 31 of 33 seats in the 2025 election according to the African Commission; some opposition parties boycotted the vote. ^{[14] [15]}

Judiciary

Supreme Court and lower judicial authorities; the 2018 Constitution assigns the Supreme Court judicial, administrative and constitutional responsibilities. ^[4]

Constituent island governments

Ngazidja, Ndzuwani and Mwali have distinct local governmental institutions, including elected island governors under the constitutional framework. ^[4]

Municipal institutions

Local communes and municipal councils provide another level of government; their powers are prescribed by law and island arrangements. ^{[4] [14]}

Territorial governance limitation

Mayotte is constitutionally claimed by Comoros but is not represented as an island governed by the Union in this administrative profile. ^{[17] [4]}

Electoral context

The 2024 presidential vote and 2025 legislative elections were criticized by sections of the opposition; official electoral results and these criticisms should not be conflated. ^{[15] [16]}

Defense and security

National defense and internal security forces operate under national authorities; maritime surveillance and coastal security are important to the island state. ^[4]

International Profile

United Nations

Member since November 12, 1975. ^[6]

African Union

Member of the African Union; geographically part of the Eastern Africa statistical region. ^{[2] [18]}

World Trade Organization

Became the 165th WTO member on August 21, 2024. ^[8]

Other international organizations

Participates in the Arab League, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Indian Ocean Commission, IMF and World Bank. ^{[4] [19]}

African continental trade cooperation

Participates in African regional economic and trade initiatives, with the WTO accession marking an additional integration milestone. ^{[8] [19]}

Mayotte dispute

Comoros claims Mayotte as part of the archipelago, while France continues to administer it; this is a longstanding contested sovereignty issue, not a current Comorian administrative district. ^{[4] [17]}

Principal maritime relationships

Regional connections with Madagascar, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius and other Indian Ocean countries. ^[19]

Trade and travel connectivity

International trade depends on ports and aviation; maritime geography and shipping costs strongly affect food, fuel and manufactured-goods supply. ^{[19] [3]}

2026 UNESCO World Heritage inscription

The Medinas of the Historic Sultanates of the Comoros was inscribed in 2026; it includes six historic urban sites on Ngazidja and Ndzuwani. ^{[9] [10]}

World Heritage Convention

Ratified September 27, 2000. ^[9]

Country dialing code

+269

Internet domain

.km

Civil time

UTC+03:00 (East Africa Time).

Sources and Verification

Editorial cutoff: November 5, 2026. Figures are tied to their reference years; provisional and historical data are not presented as current census results. Country-level sources sometimes use different territorial definitions, especially regarding Mayotte.

1. World Bank, Comoros Country Data — 2025 population 882,847, nominal GDP about US$1.81 billion, GDP per capita US$2,055.8, growth 3.8%, inflation 3.2%; 2024 life expectancy and dated social indicators.
2. United Nations Statistics Division, UNdata: Comoros — UN classification, capital, 2025 population, 2,235 km² territorial surface area including the contested fourth island, national currency, density, UN accession and social indicators; figures differ by territorial and statistical basis.
3. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Maritime Profile: Comoros (2024) — 2024 goods exports US$30 million, imports US$358 million and merchandise-trade deficit US$328 million; 1,861 km² area for the administered three-island state; estimated and provisional indicators identified.
4. Constitute Project, Constitution of the Union of the Comoros (2018 text) — Constitutional name, capital, official languages, anthem, flag, national motto, state religion, presidential executive system, unicameral Assembly and autonomous island governance; legal text, not proof of political practice.
5. United Nations Treaty Series, Comoros Declaration of Acceptance of the UN Charter (1975) — Contemporaneous document giving the December 22, 1974 independence referendum and July 6, 1975 declaration.
6. United Nations, Comoros Country Profile and Member State Admission — UN membership on November 12, 1975 and the UN reference geography.
7. U.S. Department of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Comoros — Sunni Islam as the dominant religion, approximate religious composition, protections and restrictions on non-Sunni worship; reflects 2023 reporting.
8. World Trade Organization, Annual Report 2025: Accession of Comoros — Comoros became the 165th WTO member on August 21, 2024.
9. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Comoros State Party — 2026 inscription of The Medinas of the Historic Sultanates of the Comoros and World Heritage Convention ratification.
10. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, The Medinas of the Historic Sultanates of the Comoros — Description of the six historic towns on Ngazidja and Ndzuwani inscribed in 2026.
11. International Monetary Fund, Comoros 2025 Article IV and Fifth ECF Review, Country Report 26/047 (2026) — Comorian franc conventional euro peg at EUR 1 = KMF 491.97, trade and macroeconomic framework.
12. United Nations, Demographic Yearbook 2024, Comoros census record — December 15, 2017 census count of 758,316; a census, not the same method as 2025 population estimates.
13. United Nations Protocol, Heads of State and Government and Ministers for Foreign Affairs (2026) — Azali Assoumani listed as head of state; no prime minister listed.
14. African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 2025 Intersession Report — 2025 parliamentary elections; 33 seats, 31 won by the ruling Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros; election boycotts.
15. Associated Press, January 2025 Parliamentary Elections in Comoros — 2025 elections and opposition boycott, post-2018 governance, presidential election disputes.
16. Reuters, President Assoumani and Succession Debate (January 24, 2025) — 2024 presidential election controversy and public debate over future succession; reporting, not official policy.
17. Associated Press, Mayotte and the Comoros Sovereignty Dispute (2024) — Mayotte is administered by France although Comoros claims it; separation, migration and environmental context.
18. United Nations Statistics Division, M49 Geographic Regions — Eastern Africa classification and ISO codes KM / COM / 174.
19. World Bank, Comoros Overview — Small-island economy, dependence on imports, remittances, agriculture, tourism and environmental pressures.
20. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Comoros Country Economic Fact Sheet (2026) — 2024 export partner ranking: Tanzania, India, France, United States, United Kingdom; source uses partner-reported merchandise figures.

Methodological conventions: World Bank population and GDP data use 2025 modelled annual series. The last cited census is from December 2017. Merchandise exports (US$30 million) and imports (US$358 million) are the 2024 UNCTAD goods figures, not annual national-income totals or services values. The territory figure of 1,861 km² covers the three administered islands; the United Nations' 2,235 km² reference uses a different territorial definition. Constitutional provisions, official results, and political controversies are described separately.