country comparison to the world: 39
$27.25 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$89.69 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 39
$85.34 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$87.03 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 48
$102 billion (31 December 2007)
$56.2 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa
beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Industries:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,
chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - production:
50.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - consumption:
38.59 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - exports:
876.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
39.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
600,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Oil - consumption:
291,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - exports:
294,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Oil - imports:
16,540 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - proved reserves:
1.355 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - production:
9 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - consumption:
8.1 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - exports:
900 million cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - proved reserves:
105.9 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Current account balance:
-$6.712 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
-$5.838 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$38.53 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$30.58 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut
flowers
Exports - partners:
US 38%, Venezuela 16.2%, Ecuador 4% (2008)
Imports:
$37.56 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$31.17 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 29.2%, China 11.5%, Mexico 7.9%, Brazil 5.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$23.67 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$20.95 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$46.38 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 56
$44.55 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$67.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$56.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$13.18 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$10.93 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 2,243.6 (2008), 2,013.8
(2007), 2,358.6 (2006), 2,320.75 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004)
Communications ::Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:
6.82 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
Telephones - mobile cellular:
41.365 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system in many respects;
telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple
providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services;
fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile
cellular telephone subscribership is about 90 per 100 persons;
competition among cellular service providers is resulting in falling
local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep
decline in the market share of fixed line services
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking
50 cities
international: country code - 57; submarine cables provide links to
the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America;
satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully
digitalized international switching centers) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
60 (1997)
Internet country code:
.co
Internet hosts:
2.217 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
Internet users:
17.117 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 21
Transportation ::Colombia
Airports:
992 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 116
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 15 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 876
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 228
under 914 m: 612 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 4,560 km; oil 6,094 km; refined products 3,383 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,802 km
country comparison to the world: 45
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,652 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 164,257 km (2005)
country comparison to the world: 31
Waterways:
18,000 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
Merchant marine:
total: 17
country comparison to the world: 100
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 3, specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 4)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo
Military ::Colombia
Military branches:
National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional,
includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM),
and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia,
FAC) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,478,109
females age 16-49: 11,809,279 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,212,944
females age 16-49: 10,045,435 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 446,432
female: 437,164 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Transnational Issues ::Colombia
Disputes - international:
in December 2007, ICJ allocates San Andres, Providencia, and Santa
Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but does not rule on
82 degrees W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua; managed
dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and
Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of
Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and
paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have
caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries;
Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various
claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bank
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1.8-3.5 million (conflict between government and illegal armed
groups and drug traffickers) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading
coca cultivator with 167,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2007, a
6% increase over 2006, producing a potential of 535 mt of pure
cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies
cocaine to nearly all of the US market and the great majority of
other international drug markets; in 2005, aerial eradication
dispensed herbicide to treat over 130,000 hectares but aggressive
replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key
producer; a significant portion of narcotics proceeds are either
laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso
exchange; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy
cultivation is estimated to have fallen 25% between 2006 and 2007;
most Colombian heroin is destined for the US market (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Comoros (Africa)
Introduction ::Comoros
Background:
Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since
gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of
Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999,
military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and
helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in
which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and
each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002
Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected
its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI
was elected to office. In 2007, BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto
secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh
Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate
elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to
resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval
blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers
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: 2,235 sq km
country comparison to the world: 179
land: 2,235 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
Karthala 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:
752,438 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 159,282/female 158,073)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 203,533/female 208,591)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,474/female 12,485) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 19.1 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.766% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Birth rate:
35.23 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Death rate:
7.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.57 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 30
male: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.47 years
country comparison to the world: 171
male: 61.07 years
female: 65.94 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.84 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili
and Arabic)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 120
Government ::Comoros
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian); Union des Comores
(French); Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic)
local short form: Komori (Comorian); Comores (French); Juzur al
Qamar (Arabic)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Anjouan
(Ndzuwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
23 December 2001
Legal system:
French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)
head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency
rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three
main islands in the Union; election last held 14 May 2006 (next to
be held in 2011)
election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of
vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed
DJAANFAMI 13.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected
by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by universal
suffrage; to serve for five years);
elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held on 2
August 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies
from local island assemblies
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the
president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected
by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of
the republic)
Political parties and leaders:
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani];
Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties
organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union
President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID]
(Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le
Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la
Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement
National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid
AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: environmentalists
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Representative to the UN and Ambassador to the US
Mohamed TOIHIRI
chancery: Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418,
New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to
Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue,
with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within
the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the
hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line
between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the
four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -
Mwali, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial
collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols
of Islam
Economy ::Comoros
Economy - overview:
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three
islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and
rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low
educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence
level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy
dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture,
including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP,
employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.
The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the
main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government -
which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to
upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and
industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports,
promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. The
political problems have inhibited growth, which has averaged only
about 1% in 2006-08. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help
supplement GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$741.7 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
$738 million (2007 est.)
$745.5 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$532 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
-1% (2007 est.)
1.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
$1,000 (2007 est.)
$1,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
268,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Population below poverty line:
60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Central bank discount rate:
5.36% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
5.36% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 79
10.5% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$100.6 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 113
$76.68 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$41.74 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 124
$23.39 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$79.52 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
$45.09 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, perfume essences, copra, coconuts,
bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Industries:
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - production:
22 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - imports:
766.2 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Current account balance:
$8 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Exports:
$32 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 201
Exports - commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Exports - partners:
France 27.1%, Turkey 15.2%, India 9.5%, Greece 9.4%, Brazil 8.9%,
Algeria 7%, Singapore 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.3% (2008)
Imports:
$143 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 203
Imports - commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Brazil 13.4%, France 13.1%, China 11.5%, UAE 9.1%, India 5.8%, Italy
5.3%, Pakistan 5.3%, Singapore 4.2%, Kenya 4.2% (2008)
Debt - external:
$232 million (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007), 391.8 (2006),
395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003)
note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677
Comoran francs per euro
Communications ::Comoros
Telephones - main lines in use:
23,300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 187
Telephones - mobile cellular:
42,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 198
Telephone system:
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations; fixed-line connections only
about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 5 per 100
persons
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications
to Madagascar and Reunion
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Internet country code:
.km
Internet hosts:
7 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 223
Internet users:
23,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 188
Transportation ::Comoros
Airports:
4 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 184
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 880 km
country comparison to the world: 184
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (2002)
Merchant marine: