Reuters AlertNet Lite

PEOPLE

Language
French and Arabic are both official languages; Comoran, a Swahili dialect, and Malagasy are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	0.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	0.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	0.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	0.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	0.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	0.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
1.2 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
The original Malay-Polynesian inhabitants were absorbed by waves of Bantu and Arab migrations. Today, Arab and Bantu groups predominate and co-exist with Indian and Malagasy minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Islam (98 percent) is the official religion; there is also a Catholic minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	38.3 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	37.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	37.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	36.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	35.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	35.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	34.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	33.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1956
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2005)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	42.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	42.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	42.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	42.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	42.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +3

Climate description
Warm and tropical; hot, rainy season from November-May.

Currency
Comoro franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 269

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	64.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	63.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	63.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	60.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	60.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	59.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	62.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	61.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	61.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	59.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	58.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	58.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	66.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	65.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	65.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	62.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	61.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	61.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	49 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	51 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	53 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	52 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	54 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	59 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	59 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	61 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	66 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	68 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	71 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	70 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	400 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	480 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	134	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	132	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	132	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	136	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	134	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	137	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	25 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	25 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	25 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	25 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2000	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	52 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	60 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	62 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	85 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	86 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	96 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	35 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	33 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	23 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	56.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	56.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	56.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	55.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	63.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	63.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	63.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	63.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	49.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	49.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	48.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	48.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	28 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	25 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	23 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	16 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	59 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	25 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	No data available per 1,000 people
2001	No data available per 1,000 people
2000	No data available per 1,000 people

Internet users

2008	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	25 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	134 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	123 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Signed but not yet ratified (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	680 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	670 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	650 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	550 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	470 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	400 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	400 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	400 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	0.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	4.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	-0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	4.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	0.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	5.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	4.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	8.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	15 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	15 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	42 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	44 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	46 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	48 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	50 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	52 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	54 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	56 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	378	UNHCR
2007	96	UNHCR
2006	72	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	61	UNHCR
2004	50	UNHCR
2003	No data available
2002	No data available
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of refugees residing here

2008	No data available
2007	No data available
2006	1	UNHCR
2005	1	UNHCR
2004	No data available
2003	No data available
2002	No data available
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2002)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	3.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	3.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	3.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	No data available percent
1998-2000	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003