About Comoros (Federal Islamic Republic)
Comorian (Shikomori) - a Bantu language with three dialects corresponding to the country's three main islands, spoken by nearly the entire population.
Arabic - an official language, reflecting Comoros' strong Islamic heritage.
French - also an official language, a legacy of colonial rule.
Comorian, Arabic, and French are all official languages of Comoros.
| Geography |
Location: Southern Africa, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,862-2,235 sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones possible during the rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore; Karthala volcano (2,361 m) last erupted in 2007
Geography - note: important location at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel; the only Arab League country that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere
| People |
Population: 877,400-920,000 (2025 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population 66.8 years (World Bank, 2025)
Infant mortality rate: 35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (World Bank, 2025)
Nationality:
noun/adjective: Comoran(s)/Comorian(s)
Ethnic groups: primarily Comorians ("Shikomori"), descended from Bantu, Arab, and Malagasy origins
Religions: Muslim 98.1% (overwhelmingly Sunni), ethnic religionist 1.1%, Christian 0.6% (2020 est.)
Languages: Comorian (Shikomori, Bantu language with 3 island dialects), Arabic (official), French (official)
Population distribution: the capital, Moroni, on Grande Comore, is the largest city; Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three main islands
| Government |
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
Data code: CN
Government type: presidential republic
National capital: Moroni
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France); residents of the island of Mayotte voted to remain with France, which has since classified it as a French Overseas Department
Background: for centuries the archipelago served as a key node in Indian Ocean maritime trade networks connecting the Middle East, India, and East Africa; spent most of the 20th century as a French colonial outpost; since independence, Comoros has weathered approximately 20 successful and attempted coups, mostly between 1975 and 2000, resulting in prolonged political instability
| Economy |
Economy - overview: small, lower-middle-income, trade-based island economy; among the world's poorest countries; heavily dependent on remittances (over 20% of GDP) and foreign aid, particularly from France and the EU; subsistence agriculture and fishing underpin much of the economy
GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.66 billion (2025 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (2025)
GDP - per capita: $4,020 PPP (2025 est.)
Inflation rate: 1.749% (2018)
Unemployment rate: 3.8% (2025 est.)
Population below poverty line: 60% (2002)
Industries: fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Currency: Comorian franc (KMF)