The Human Truth Foundation

Comoros (Union of Comoros)

http://www.humantruth.info/comoros.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#comoros

Comoros
Union of Comoros
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index180th best
CapitalMoroni
Land Area 1 861km21
LocationAfrica
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.8m2
Life Expectancy63.42yrs (2017)3
GNI$3 142 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesKM, COM, 1745
Internet Domain.km6
CurrencyFranc (KMF)7
Telephone+2698

1. Overview

#france #mayotte

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 of the entire government 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 local government. AZALI won the 2002 federal presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI was elected to office. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of Comoros, refusing to step down 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 to Anjouan, but in March 2008 the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In May 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverScattered across the Indian Ocean, the enchanting Comoros islands are the kind of place you go to drop off the planet for a while. The Comoros are so remote even an international fugitive could hide out here. Rich in Swahili culture, and devoutly Muslim, the charming inhabitants come from a legendary stock of Arab traders, Persian sultans, African slaves and Portuguese pirates. Nicknamed `Cloud Coup-Coup´ land because of their crazy politics, the three independent islands have experienced almost 20 coups since gaining independence in 1975. In the last decade, however, the quarrelsome independent islands agreed to put their differences aside and fly under the joint banner of the Union des Comores. The fourth island, Mayotte, is an overseas territory of France, and differs from the other Comorian islands politically in that its people are French citizens governed by French law.

Holidaying in the Comoros isn´t for everyone. Everything moves slowly and tourism facilities are far from plush. But if your idea of the perfect holiday is lazy days sipping tea and talking with the locals, then the Comoros will be the kind of unpredictable adventure you´ve been craving.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Comoros National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
153Congo, (Brazzaville)0.571
154Zambia0.565
155Solomon Islands0.564
156=Comoros0.558
156=Papua New Guinea0.558
158Mauritania0.556
159Ivory Coast0.550
160Tanzania0.549
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
160Benin$3 409
161Senegal$3 344
162Zambia$3 218
163Comoros$3 142
164Vanuatu$3 085
165Congo, (Brazzaville)$2 889
166Haiti$2 848
167Lesotho$2 700
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
177Iraq122.7
178Guinea-Bissau123.0
179Mauritania123.1
180Comoros124.0
181Burundi124.1
182Papua New Guinea124.9
183Yemen125.0
184Sudan126.9
Africa Avg110.5
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Comoros's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Comoros's population is predicted to rise to 1.16 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.78. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
157Swaziland1.1m
158Djibouti1.0m
159Fiji0.9m
160Comoros0.8m
161Guyana0.8m
162Bhutan0.8m
163Solomon Islands0.7m
164Montenegro0.6m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
157Bolivia63.6
158Nauru63.6
159Congo, (Brazzaville)63.5
160Comoros63.4
161Haiti63.2
162Malawi62.9
163Uganda62.7
164S. Africa62.3
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
155Senegal4.65
156Gambia4.73
157Mozambique4.75
158Comoros4.78
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
161Yemen4.98
162Equatorial Guinea5.02
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
31S. Sudan06.2
32=Tanzania06.2
32=Sao Tome & Principe06.2
34Comoros06.3
35=Mozambique06.4
35=Madagascar06.4
35=Papua New Guinea06.4
38Ghana06.5
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
137Nepal1.7%
138Poland1.7%
139Senegal1.7%
140Comoros1.5%
141Fiji1.5%
142Ghana1.4%
143Niger1.4%
144Yemen1.4%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
100Benin5.8%
101Laos5.7%
102Turkey5.6%
103Comoros5.6%
104Congo, (Brazzaville)5.6%
105Togo5.4%
106Ivory Coast5.4%
107Switzerland5.4%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Comoros's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Africa (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1S. Africa56.1
2Seychelles66.7
3Namibia69.4
...
46Zimbabwe134.3
47Angola136.0
48Eritrea139.5
49Djibouti140.6
50Comoros140.8
51Swaziland141.8
52Mauritania144.4
53Sudan148.6
54Somalia159.5
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
185Eritrea139.5
186Afghanistan140.6
187Djibouti140.6
188Comoros140.8
189Pakistan141.3
190Swaziland141.8
191Mauritania144.4
192Cook Islands144.5
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better19
Pos.2009
Treaties19
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
167Oman9
168=Iran9
168=St Kitts & Nevis9
168=Comoros9
168=Cook Islands9
172Guinea-Bissau8
173=USA8
173=Somalia8
Africa Avg14.8
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better20
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty20
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
174Malaysia14.35
175N. Korea14.52
176UAE14.81
177Comoros14.82
178Fiji14.85
179Samoa14.85
180Myanmar (Burma)14.93
181St Kitts & Nevis15.00
Africa Avg9.88
World Avg10.02
q=195.
Press Freedom
Lower is better21
Pos.201321
1Finland638
2Netherlands648
3Norway652
...
47Samoa2384
48Haiti2409
49S. Korea2448
50Comoros2452
51S. Africa2456
52Japan2517
53Argentina2567
54Moldova2601
Africa Avg3511
World Avg3249
q=178.

Gender Equality:

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Comoros and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting.

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
111=Somalia1956
111=Gabon1956
111=Egypt1956
111=Comoros1956
115Malaysia1957
116=Laos1958
116=Hungary1958
116=Chad1958
Africa Avg1961
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
22
Pos.2017
Score22
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
173Egypt-27
174=Iraq-29
174=Togo-29
176Comoros-30
177=Angola-30
177=Uzbekistan-30
177=Tonga-30
177=Tuvalu-30
Africa Avg-10.4
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
23
Pos.202123
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
169Algeria4.0
170Iraq4.3
171=Nigeria4.3
171=Comoros4.3
173Eritrea4.5
174=Egypt4.5
174=Bangladesh4.5
174=Bahrain4.5
Africa Avg3.1
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Comoros's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #Comoros #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2020)24
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank24
1Mauritius64.5
2Morocco73.1
3=Eritrea77.0
...
15Gambia101.3
16=Egypt101.8
16=Ghana101.8
18Comoros102.1
19=Guinea104.5
19=Malawi104.5
21Lesotho106.3
22Botswana106.5
23Tanzania107.5
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Health (2020)24
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank24
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
126Moldova101.5
127=Ghana101.8
127=Egypt101.8
129Comoros102.1
130Mexico102.6
131Montenegro102.8
132Bolivia103.4
133Uruguay103.6
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives25. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau25.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean25, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa25.

For more, see:

Health:

Comoros is a pretty unhealthy country. Comoros does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate26 and in its smoking rate27 (but bad for Africa). But that's it. Comoros has problems. It does worse than average in its adolescent birth rate28 (still good for Africa), its immunizations take-up29, its fertility rate13 and in its average life expectancy11 (still high for Africa). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Comoros improved by +8.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, just over the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
157Bolivia63.6
158Nauru63.6
159Congo, (Brazzaville)63.5
160Comoros63.4
161Haiti63.2
162Malawi62.9
163Uganda62.7
164S. Africa62.3
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
26
Pos.2016
Per Capita26
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
24=Azerbaijan0.8
25Algeria0.9
26=Malaysia0.9
26=Comoros0.9
28Iran1.0
29=Vanuatu1.0
30Papua New Guinea1.2
31=Eritrea1.3
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
155Senegal4.65
156Gambia4.73
157Mozambique4.75
158Comoros4.78
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
161Yemen4.98
162Equatorial Guinea5.02
Africa Avg4.31
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
27
Pos.201427
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
54Kenya 257
55Mauritius 261
56El Salvador 280
57Comoros 289
58Congo, (Brazzaville) 294
59Bolivia 299
60Bahamas 301
61Sierra Leone 310
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better30
Pos.2016
%30
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
24Mozambique26.4
25Guinea26.6
26Equatorial Guinea26.7
27=Comoros27.1
27=Bhutan27.1
29Japan27.2
30Angola27.5
31Philippines27.6
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
28
Pos.2015
Per 100028
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
133Belize65.9
134Ghana66.8
135Brazil67.0
136Comoros68.3
137Swaziland70.4
138Bolivia70.8
139Nepal71.9
140Cape Verde73.4
Africa Avg87.5
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
29
Pos.2015
Avg %29
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
148Laos83.3
149Djibouti82.6
150Uganda82.5
151Comoros81.8
152Marshall Islands81.8
153Mozambique81.4
154Venezuela80.6
155Myanmar (Burma)80.3
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Comoros's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2023)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Seychelles55.3
2Kenya57.4
3=Zambia57.6
...
34Central African Rep.96.5
35Namibia99.0
36Guinea-Bissau99.3
37Comoros99.5
38Niger100.7
39Congo, DR101.8
40Burundi102.0
41Swaziland102.3
42Botswana106.8
Africa Avg90.1
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
133Azerbaijan99.3
134Guinea-Bissau99.3
135Russia99.4
136Comoros99.5
137Jamaica99.7
138Niger100.7
139Congo, DR101.8
140Burundi102.0
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Comoros comes 136th in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 5 data sets. Comoros does better than average in annual meat consumption per person32 (but bad for Africa) and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. And finally, it does worse than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population33, its environmental performance34 and in its forested percent change 1990-201535.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
35
Pos.2015
%35
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
160Somalia-23.2
161Indonesia-23.2
162Kyrgyzstan-23.8
163Comoros-24.5
164Nepal-24.7
165Benin-25.2
166Guatemala-25.4
167Myanmar (Burma)-25.9
Africa Avg-08.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
34
Pos.201834
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
143Guinea-Bissau44.7
144Vanuatu44.6
145Uganda44.3
146Comoros44.2
147Mali43.7
148Rwanda43.7
149Zimbabwe43.4
150Cambodia43.2
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
87Chile1994 Dec 08
88Iceland1994 Dec 11
89Venezuela1994 Dec 12
90Comoros1994 Dec 28
91=S. Korea1995 Jan 01
91=Bolivia1995 Jan 01
93Senegal1995 Jan 15
94Cameroon1995 Jan 17
Africa Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better33
Pos.2011
%33
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
95Egypt30.1%
96Macedonia30.1%
97Senegal29.6%
98Comoros28.3%
99Ireland27.9%
100Israel27.6%
101Palestine27.5%
102Saudi Arabia27.2%
Africa Avg38.3%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
32
Pos.2021
kg32
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
62Philippines32.9
63Burkina Faso33.3
64Central African Rep.34.4
65Comoros34.5
66Venezuela35.6
67Jordan36.0
68Lebanon36.3
69Paraguay36.4
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Comoros's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1S. Africa52.8
2Egypt70.4
3Tunisia73.4
...
45Central African Rep.146.3
46Equatorial Guinea149.3
47Chad150.6
48Niger151.0
49Guinea157.5
50Comoros160.5
51S. Sudan164.0
52Sierra Leone167.8
53Eritrea193.5
Africa Avg120.7
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
198Niger151.0
199Solomon Islands152.7
200Haiti153.8
201Guinea157.5
202Comoros160.5
203S. Sudan164.0
204Sierra Leone167.8
205Eritrea193.5
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
37
Pos.2021
Years37
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
137Ghana12.0
138Lesotho12.0
139Namibia11.9
140Comoros11.9
141India11.9
142Kiribati11.8
143Nauru11.7
144Tajikistan11.7
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
38
Pos.201638
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
179Liberia9%
180Congo, (Brazzaville)8%
181=Togo7%
181=Comoros7%
183Afghanistan7%
184Malawi7%
185Mozambique6%
186Benin6%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

Comoros has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption and things have been getting even worse over the last ten years.

Corruption
Higher is better
39
Pos.2022
Points39
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
165Guinea-Bissau21.0
166Congo, DR20.0
167=Nicaragua19.0
167=Comoros19.0
167=Turkmenistan19.0
167=Chad19.0
171Equatorial Guinea17.0
172=N. Korea17.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.

9. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better40
Pos.201940
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
157Afghanistan28.30
158=Gambia28.50
158=Burundi28.50
160Comoros28.90
161=Liberia29.80
161=Mozambique29.80
163Pakistan29.90
164Mauritania30.00
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better41
Pos.2017
%41
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
123Bolivia44.0
124=Ecuador44.7
124=Malawi44.7
126Comoros45.3
127Dominican Rep.45.7
128Nicaragua46.2
129S. Sudan46.3
130=Cameroon46.6
Africa Avg42.6
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better42
Pos.2018
Severity42
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
62Bhutan.175
63Myanmar (Burma).176
64Kenya.178
65Comoros.181
66Bangladesh.198
67Pakistan.198
68Haiti.200
69Timor-Leste (E. Timor).210
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

10. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below43:

Christian0.5%
Muslim98.3%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%44.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)45, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Comoros states:

The constitution and other laws and policies protect freedom of religion or belief. However, the constitution also states that citizens will draw governing principles and rules from Islamic tenets. A constitutional referendum passed in May 2009 states "Islam is the state religion". Proselytizing for any religion except Islam is illegal, and foreigners caught proselytizing for religions other than Islam are subject to deportation. Additionally, people who leave Islam, whether for another religion or no religion, may be prosecuted for apostasy.

Information from 2010 IRF report (US International Religious Freedom report).
In "Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)46.

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