Comoros – Country Information

Population:
Comoros has a population of 846,281 as of 2020.

Size:
2,171 sq km / 863 sq mi (a little more than half the size of Rhode Island)

Capital City:
Moroni is the capital city of Comoros located on island of Grande Comore.

Ethnic Groups:
Antalote
Cafre
Mokoa
Oimatsaha
Sakalava

These ethnic groups have diverse origins such as Malay, Arab, Persian, African, and Malagasy. As people have intermarried and lines blurred between ethnic groups some classify all the groups as Comoran ethnicity. 

Religion:
98% Sunni Islam (state religion)
2% Christian

Languages:
Arabic
French
Shikomoro

Shikomoro is a blend of Swahili and Arabic, also know as Comoran. 

Geography:
Comoros is an archipelago located between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique in the mouth of the Mozambique Channel. As a result of volcanic activity, coral reefs surround the island and are some of the best diving areas in the world.

Economy:
Comoros is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture of cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, and mountain rice as well as fishing. Unemployment is a huge problem in Comoros, and as a result, many of its young people are choosing to seeking education and work in France.

Interesting Fact:
The volcanic Comoros islands are an archipelago and are called the “perfumed islands” for their fragrant plant life.

Important Facts:
Comoros was originally made up of four islands colonized by France. Three of the island gained their independence in 1975, but the island of Mayotte voted to remain a province of France.