Comoros

People

The Comorians inhabiting Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli (86% of the population) share African-Arab origins. Islam is the dominant religion, and Koranic schools for children reinforce its influence. Although Arab culture is firmly established throughout the archipelago, a substantial minority of the citizens of Mayotte (the Mahorais) are Catholic and have been strongly influenced by French culture.

The most common language is Shikomoro, a Swahili dialect. French and Malagasy are also spoken. About 48% of the population is literate.

 

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1990 2000 2010 2018
Population, total (millions) 33.1 39.63 45.22 49.66
Population growth (annual %) 2 1.6 1.1 1.5
Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) 1,141.80 1,141.80 1,141.80 1,141.70
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 29.8 35.7 40.8 44.8
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) .. 49.7 37.2 27
Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) 9 16.8 7.9 4.2
Income share held by lowest 20% 3.7 1.9 3.3 4
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 70 73 75 77
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 3.1 2.6 2 1.8
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 96 98 77 65
Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) 66 77 79 81
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) 81 86 95 96
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 35 25 18 14
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) 8.8 4.9 3.4 3.7
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 82 88 88 95
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) 75 96 117 107
School enrollment, primary (% gross) 107.5 119.4 120.3 114.5
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) 54 73 98 98
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) 1 1 1 1
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.5
Environment
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) 644.2 618 586.4 584.8
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) .. .. .. 15.7
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) .. 0.4 0.5 ..
Urban population growth (annual %) 2.7 2.2 1.5 1.9
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) 732 651 690 ..
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 1.73 1.46 1.7 2.03
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) 872 846 1,095 ..
Net migration (thousands) -288 -231 -193 1,024