and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
16%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
soil degradation and erosion; deforestation
natural hazards:
cyclones possible during rainy season
international agreements:
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
Sea
Note:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

@Comoros, People

Population:
530,136 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.55% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
46.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
57.81 years
male:
55.63 years
female:
60.06 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Comoran(s)
adjective:
Comoran
Ethnic divisions:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and
Arabic)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
48%
male:
56%
female:
40%
Labor force:
140,000 (1982)
by occupation:
agriculture 80%, government 3%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)

@Comoros, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
conventional short form:
Comoros
local long form:
Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
local short form:
Comores
Digraph:
CN
Type:
independent republic
Capital:
Moroni
Administrative divisions:
three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli
(Mwali)
note:
there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and
Mutsamudu
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
7 June 1992
Legal system:
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state::
President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); election last
held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results - Said
Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%
head of government::
Prime Minister Mohamed Abdou MADI (s