s seized the island. The move was generally welcomed
by the island's inhabitants.

Geography
Comoros

Location:

Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the
Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern
Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

340 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain:

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Karthala 2,360 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Total renewable water resources:

1.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%)
per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)

Natural hazards:

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le
Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes
without proper terracing; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

People
Comoros

Population:

731,775 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.4% (male 155,662/female 154,520)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 197,178/female 202,231)
65 years and over: 3% (male 10,203/female 11,981) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.7 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.803% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

35.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/fe