Comoros – country information

Country name	Chambers
Official name	Federated Islamic Republic of Comoros
Capital	Morons
Continent	Africa
Area	2,235 km2
Population	743,798 (2013)
Foundation of a state	7/6/1975
The highest mountains	Kartala (on the island of Njazidja) 2560 m
State system	a federal republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Moroni (capital) 40,000
Official language	Arabic and French
Ethnicity/National Composition	Comorians 97%, Makua 1.5%, others 1.5%
Religious affiliation	Sunni Muslims 99.8%
Currency	1 Comorian franc (CF) = 100 centimes
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$1,251 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	62.33 years (2006)

Country overview

The Comoros Archipelago lies in the Indian Ocean between northern Madagascar and Mozambique. Three of the four islands form an independent republic. The southeasternmost island of Mayotte remained a French overseas territory.

According to Abbreviationfinder, Comoros is a state in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. The capital is Moroni. Official languages ​​- French, Arabic. Religion – Islam. Currency – Comorian franc.

The name of the state comes from the word al-kamr, which means “moon”. The islands are mountainous and surrounded by coral reefs. The climate is tropical.
Ancient Arab travelers called these islands Lunar because the chaotic heaps of rocks from black volcanic lava seemed unearthly to them.

There are four main islands in the volcanic archipelago of the Comoros. Three of them – Ngazidzha (Grand Comore), Ndzuani (Anjouan), Mwali (Moheli) constitute the Union of Comoros, and the island of Maore (Mayotte) has the status of an overseas territory of France. And since he voted against independence from France, he is claimed by the Comoros.

Resorts and attractions of the Comoros

The Union of the Comoros participates in the program for the development of a single tourist route called the Colorful Islands, which unites Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion and the Seychelles. The best travel season is May-October. The most visited is the island of Grand Comore.

The Comoros has good conditions for the development of the tourism business – sandy beaches, picturesque mountain landscapes, spearfishing. Tourism has been developing here since the end of 1980. In 1991, 17 thousand foreign tourists visited the islands, and in 1994 already 27.1 thousand (mostly travelers from Europe and South Africa). Due to internal political instability and underdevelopment of the tourist infrastructure, Comoros is the least visited of the islands of the Indian Ocean. In 2000, about 23.9 thousand people visited them.

The sights of Komor are the numerous ancient mosques and the bazaar in Moroni. These are white sandy beaches on the island of Grande Comore. This is the palace of the Sultan and the picturesque waterfall Dzyankundre on the island Anjouan. These are the Sultan’s palaces of the 16th-18th centuries. in the city of Domoni and green sea turtles on the island of Chissio-Ouenefou.

Interesting Facts

The islands were inhabited as early as the 5th century AD.

A visa with a valid passport, an invitation or a paid tour and a return ticket can be obtained at the airport upon arrival. Malaria vaccination is recommended. There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency.
It is forbidden to import weapons (including for spearfishing), printed and video products that are contrary to the norms of Islam. The export of corals, shells and products made from tortoise shell is prohibited.
Currency can be exchanged at banks (here the highest rate), hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. Credit cards and traveler’s checks do not circulate.
Women should refrain from wearing miniskirts.

Country data

Location: South Africa

Time zone: CET + 2 (during summer time: CET + 1)

Total area: 2,235 km²

Land area: 2,235 km²

Water area: 0 km²

Length of the state border: 0 km

Coastline: 340 km

Capital: Moroni

Regions: 7
Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Domoni, Fomboni, Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Moheli (Mwali), Moroni, Moutsamoudou

Telephone code: 00 269 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m

Population

Population: approx. 770,000 residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.9% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 345

Life expectancy: 61 (male), 66 (female)

Official language: Arabic, French

Religions:

• 98% Muslim
• 2% Roman Catholic

Climate

In the warm tropical climate, it is hottest from November to March (27-34 ° C). In the remaining months the temperature is 25-27 ° C.

There is high humidity all year round with a very high number of rainy days. The most comfortable time is from May to October.

The water temperature averages 26 ° C.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Comoros Franc (KMF)

Classification: 1 Franc = 100 Centimes

ATMs: not available

International credit cards: accepted in most international hotels.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

Money can almost only be exchanged at the banks in Moroni and Mutsamudu. Hotels often change money, but mostly at very bad rates.

You should only ever exchange the amounts actually required, as it is very difficult to exchange them back, with sometimes considerable losses.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

There is an import ban on botanical items (plants and potting soil).

Travel advice

There is a risk of pirate attacks and capture in the waters and coastal areas of the region.

Skippers are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution.

Behavioral advice

During the fasting month of Ramadan, Muslims do not eat during the day but only after sunset. Therefore, many restaurants are closed during the day.

The sale of alcohol and cigarettes is also severely restricted.

You should be cautious when choosing your clothes.

A tip of 10% is customary.

Economy

The Comoros economy is barely developed and heavily dependent on its main French trading partner.

Industries: jewelry making, tourism

Natural resources: none

Land use:

• Usable land: 35%
• Grain cultivation: 10%
• Pasture area: 7%
• Forests: 18%
• other: 30%

Plants

Due to heavy clearing, the topical rainforest, which once covered the entire island, can only be found at inaccessible heights.

Mangroves grow in the lower regions.

Animals

The Comoros coelacanth is the most famous prehistoric fish and has long been considered extinct. Isolated specimens have been discovered at a depth of 200-400 m.