Comoros is an independent island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the coast of East Africa. The country comprises three main islands from the Comorian archipelago: Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli, and Anjouan. The fourth main island, Mayotte, is administered by France, but is claimed by Comoros. Comoros has a population of approximately 877,400 as of 2025. Its culture reflects African, Arabic, Malagasy, and French influences. Islam is the dominant religion. Traditional arts include basketry, wood carving, and jewelry making. Comoros is one of the world’s poorest countries, with an economy based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. Aid from the European Union, notably France, has been the major support of the economy since its independence in 1975.

Where is Comoros located?

Comoros is an independent state consisting of three main islands in the Indian Ocean, specifically at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel . These islands lie between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, approximately 180 miles (290 km) off the eastern coast of Africa. The islands include Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Ndzuwani). The capital of Comoros is Moroni, located on Grande Comore (N’gazidja).

What are the main islands that make up Comoros?

The Comoros is an independent island state located off the coast of East Africa. The main islands that make up the Comoros archipelago are Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Ndzuwani). Mayotte (Mahore) is also one of the main islands, but it is administered by France, though Comoros claims it. These volcanic islands are known as the "perfumed islands" because of their fragrant plant life and scenic beauty. The islands have a diverse cultural influence, combining African, Arabic, Malagasy, and French elements. The Comoros faces challenges such as poverty and political unrest, which have hindered its economic development.

What languages are spoken in Comoros?

The official and national languages of Comoros are Comorian (Shikomor) , French , and Arabic . One local dialect, Shingazidja, is spoken on Grande Comore and appears in the government-sponsored weekly newspaper, Al Watwan .

What is the government system in Comoros?

Comoros is a republic with one legislative house, the Assembly of the Union. Under the 2001 constitution , the islands of Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan form the Union of the Comoros. Executive power is vested in the president, who is the head of state and government, assisted by three vice presidents. The president is directly elected for a five-year term, which can be renewed once. Each vice president also serves a five-year term, representing one of the three islands. The unicameral legislature, the Assembly of the Union, consists of members elected to five-year terms. Slightly more than half of the members are directly elected, with the remainder selected by the islands’ local governments. The current President of Comoros is Azali Assoumani.

What are some important economic activities in Comoros?

Comoros' economy, one of the world's poorest, relies on subsistence agriculture and fishing. A significant portion of the islands is covered by plantations that grow vanilla, perfume plants, coconuts, coffee, cloves, cacao, and other crops. Fishing is also a potentially significant industry, though it exists primarily on a small scale. Tourism is growing but is dependent on political stability. The gross national income (GNI) per capita was $1,610,000,000 as of 2023. Since its independence in 1975, Comoros has been dependent on aid from the European Union, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Kuwait.

Comoros

Images

Map of the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean, showing the islands' boundaries and major cities, including Moroni, Mutsamoudou, and Mamoudzou on Mayotte, which is labeled as French territory. An inset locator map highlights the position of Comoros off the southeastern coast of Africa.

Wooden boats are moored in the harbor of Moroni, Comoros, with waterfront buildings and a mountain in the background under a dramatic sky.

Map of eastern Africa and the western Indian Ocean highlighting the location of Comoros, an island nation situated between Madagascar and Mozambique, with its capital Moroni marked. Surrounding countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also labeled.

Map showing the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean, including Grande Comore, Moheli, and Anjouan, as well as the nearby French island of Mayotte. The map highlights Mount Karthala on Grande Comore and features a locator inset indicating the islands' position off the southeast coast of Africa in the Mozambique Channel.

Palm tree on a rocky shore overlooking turquoise waters and gentle waves at the beach in Moya village, Anjouan Island, Comoros, with leafy branches framing the scene.

Tropical bay on the island of Comoros with turquoise water, palm trees, lush green vegetation, and a few small buildings along the shoreline.

At a Glance

Comoros summary

Comoros

country, Africa

Also known as: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, Jumhurīyat al-Qumur al-Ittiḥādīyah al-Islāmīyah, République Fédérale Islamique des Comores(Show More)

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Martin OttenheimerAll

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History

Top Questions

What is Comoros?
Comoros is an independent island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the coast of East Africa. The country comprises three main islands from the Comorian archipelago: Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli, and Anjouan. The fourth main island, Mayotte, is administered by France, but is claimed by Comoros.

Comoros has a population of approximately 877,400 as of 2025. Its culture reflects African, Arabic, Malagasy, and French influences. Islam is the dominant religion. Traditional arts include basketry, wood carving, and jewelry making.

Comoros is one of the world’s poorest countries, with an economy based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. Aid from the European Union, notably France, has been the major support of the economy since its independence in 1975.
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1. Comoros
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Where is Comoros located?
Comoros is an independent state consisting of three main islands in the Indian Ocean, specifically at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel. These islands lie between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, approximately 180 miles (290 km) off the eastern coast of Africa. The islands include Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Ndzuwani). The capital of Comoros is Moroni, located on Grande Comore (N’gazidja).
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1. Comoros: Country Facts
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are the main islands that make up Comoros?
The Comoros is an independent island state located off the coast of East Africa. The main islands that make up the Comoros archipelago are Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Ndzuwani). Mayotte (Mahore) is also one of the main islands, but it is administered by France, though Comoros claims it.

These volcanic islands are known as the "perfumed islands" because of their fragrant plant life and scenic beauty. The islands have a diverse cultural influence, combining African, Arabic, Malagasy, and French elements. The Comoros faces challenges such as poverty and political unrest, which have hindered its economic development.
1 Britannica Source
1. Comoros
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What languages are spoken in Comoros?
The official and national languages of Comoros are Comorian (Shikomor), French, and Arabic. One local dialect, Shingazidja, is spoken on Grande Comore and appears in the government-sponsored weekly newspaper, Al Watwan.
1 Britannica Source
1. Comoros: Country Facts
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is the government system in Comoros?
Comoros is a republic with one legislative house, the Assembly of the Union. Under the 2001 constitution, the islands of Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan form the Union of the Comoros. Executive power is vested in the president, who is the head of state and government, assisted by three vice presidents. The president is directly elected for a five-year term, which can be renewed once. Each vice president also serves a five-year term, representing one of the three islands.

The unicameral legislature, the Assembly of the Union, consists of members elected to five-year terms. Slightly more than half of the members are directly elected, with the remainder selected by the islands’ local governments. The current President of Comoros is Azali Assoumani.
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2. Comoros: Constitutional framework
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What are some important economic activities in Comoros?
Comoros' economy, one of the world's poorest, relies on subsistence agriculture and fishing. A significant portion of the islands is covered by plantations that grow vanilla, perfume plants, coconuts, coffee, cloves, cacao, and other crops. Fishing is also a potentially significant industry, though it exists primarily on a small scale. Tourism is growing but is dependent on political stability. The gross national income (GNI) per capita was $1,610,000,000 as of 2023. Since its independence in 1975, Comoros has been dependent on aid from the European Union, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Kuwait.
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1. Comoros: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
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Comoros, an independent state comprising three of the main Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. The fourth main island of the Comorian archipelago, Mayotte, is claimed by the country of Comoros but administered by France.

The volcanic islands of the Comorian archipelago have been called the “perfumed islands” for their fragrant plant life and are known for their great scenic beauty. The four main islands of the archipelago—“four small effervescent stones, wedged between the nearby large red island [Madagascar] and the Mozambican coast,” in the words of the Comorian writer Sitti Saïd Youssouf—combine African, Arabic, Malagasy, and French influences and were once important in the significant Indian Ocean trade between East Africa and Asian ports such as India and Japan.

Quick Facts

See article: flag of Comoros

Audio File: National anthem of Comoros

Head Of State And Government:: President: Azali Assoumani

Capital:: Moroni

Population:: (2026 est.) 937,300⁴

Form Of Government:: republic² with one legislative house (Assembly of the Union [33³])

Official Languages:: Comorian (Shikomor); Arabic; French

Although the early history of the islands is uncertain, they are thought to have been explored by Arab and Persian traders in antiquity and, like Madagascar, settled by small numbers of Malayo-Indonesian peoples, gaining a sizable population only when Bantu-speaking peoples from the African mainland settled there. Shīrāzi Persians are thought to have arrived later, establishing Sunni Islam as the dominant religion. The ensuing Shīrāzi sultanates established trade relations with other countries along the Indian Ocean and developed a thriving economy based on the sale of spices and slaves. The opening of the Suez Canal substantially lessened the islands’ importance as an entrepôt, though not their strategic value. European colonial powers agreed that the Comorian archipelago would come under French rule in 1886–87, and it became an overseas territory of France in 1947. Three of the islands gained independence in 1975.

Comoros is poor, witnessing an ongoing exodus of educated and skilled workers to France and a steady decline in gross domestic product. The capital, Moroni, located on the island of Grande Comore (N’gazidja), has most of the modern commercial and manufacturing facilities located in the country; in the absence of other possibilities, most islanders must rely on subsistence farming. With miles of beautiful beaches, tourists have always been drawn to Comoros. The islands’ history of political unrest, however, has hampered efforts to promote tourism.

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Land

The Comoros are a group of islands at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, about 180 miles (290 km) off the eastern coast of Africa. The islands from northwest to southeast include Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), and Mayotte (Mahore).

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Relief, drainage, and soils

The islands emerged from the floor of the Indian Ocean as a result of volcanic activity. Coral reefs provide occasional barriers to the rolling seas of the Indian Ocean, and breakers mark some of the world’s best diving areas. Along the seashore, broad expanses of open sandy beaches are interrupted by isolated groups of coconut palms or mangrove trees. A few coastal areas are distinguished by the harsh dark tangle of recent lava flows, while others are covered by smoothly rounded rocks, eroded reminders of ancient volcanic activity.

Grande Comore is the largest and loftiest island. It rises near its southern end in an active volcano, Mount Karthala, which, at 7,746 feet (2,361 metres), is the country’s highest point. Karthala has erupted more than a dozen times in the past two centuries. The capital, Moroni, lies in the shadow of the volcano along the island’s west coast; the town of Mitsamiouli lies on the north coast. North of Mount Karthala is a wide plateau averaging 2,000 feet (600 metres) in elevation. The surface is generally rocky and the soils shallow. There are no perennial streams, and the coast, without large inlets, is ill suited for shipping.

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Mohéli is the smallest island of the group. Composed largely of a plateau that averages about 1,000 feet (300 metres) in elevation, the island ends in the west in a ridge reaching more than 2,600 feet (790 metres) above sea level. The valleys are generally fertile, and the hillsides are covered with thick forests. A strong sea swell hampers shipping. Mohéli’s chief towns are Fomboni on the northern coast and Nioumachoua in the southwest.

Anjouan is a triangular island rising centrally in a volcanic massif (Mount Ntingui) that reaches an elevation of about 5,200 feet (1,580 metres). Although the soil cover is good, much erosion has occurred, and many areas are no longer arable. There are no good natural harbours. Moutsamoudou, on the northwest coast, is the chief town; its port facilities were modernized in the mid-1980s.

Southeast of Anjouan lies Mayotte, the oldest of the four main islands. It is claimed by Comoros (a claim recognized by the United Nations General Assembly), but its status is unsettled, and it continues to be administered by France, along with the small island of Petite Terre and many islets, as an overseas département (department).

Climate

The tropical climate has two clearly marked seasons: a cooler, dry period between May and October and a warmer, humid season between November and April. In November the summer monsoon (kashkazi) brings the highest afternoon temperatures—about 91 °F (33 °C). The highest monthly rainfall occurs in January with about 11–15 inches (275–375 mm), and the rainy season is the season of greatest tropical cyclone frequency. Dry season daily maximum temperatures fall to their lowest, about 84 °F (29 °C), in July. The average annual rainfall varies between 43 and 114 inches (1,100 and 2,900 mm), being highest on the windward northeast sides of the islands.

Rain sinks so deeply into the hardened lava and porous rocks of Grande Comore that wells are difficult to drill. Traditionally, most of Grande Comore’s water supply has come from reservoirs filled in the rainy season and from freshwater springs along the coasts (foumbous).

Plant and animal life

Less than one-sixth of the land remains covered with forest, and rapid deforestation caused mainly by domestic firewood consumption threatens to reduce the islands’ forested land still more. A coastal zone of mangroves is followed inland by one of coconut palms, mangoes, and bananas up to about 1,300 feet (400 metres), above which a forest zone rises to about 5,900 feet (1,800 metres). Mahogany trees and orchids are primarily limited to the rugged slopes of the mountains. On the highest peaks only broom, heather, and lichens grow. Additional aromatic plants such as frangipani (Plumeria), jasmine, and lemongrass lend a delightful fragrance to the islands.

Animal life, which is similar to that of Madagascar, includes land birds (guinea fowl and egrets) and species of both lemurs and fruit bats that are peculiar to the islands. Turtles abound along the coasts and are exported. The Comorian waters are one of the habitats of the coelacanth, a rare fish once thought to be extinct, the fossil remains of which date to about 400 million years ago. Besides these unique species, the islands are also home to civets, small lizards, and giant land crabs. The expanding human population has put a number of wildlife species under threat of extinction.

Comoros

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Land

Relief, drainage, and soils

Climate

Plant and animal life