World Factbook
Comoros
Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/Union des Comores (French)/Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left; a vertical white crescent moon is centered in the triangle, with four five-pointed white stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent meaning: the horizontal bands and the stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -- Mwali, N'gazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte is a department of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Capital
name
Moroni
etymology
the name means "at the place of fire," referring to the capital's location below the active volcano Mt. Karthala
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
11 42 S, 43 14 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
previous 1996, 2001; newest adopted 30 July 2018
amendment process
proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at least three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum
Country name
former
Comorian State, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
etymology
name derives from the Arabic al qamar , meaning "the moon"
local long form
Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/Union des Comores (French)/Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic)
local short form
Komori (Comorian)/Les Comores (French)/Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)
conventional long form
Union of the Comoros
conventional short form
Comoros
Independence
6 July 1975 (from France)
Legal system
mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law
Government type
federal presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 7 judges)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de première instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges - selection and term of office NA
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)
election results
2024: AZALI Assoumani reelected president in first round - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 63%, SALIM ISSA Abdallah (PJ) 20.3%, DAOUDOU Abdallah Mohamed (Orange Party) 5.9%, Bourhane HAMIDOU (independent) 5.1%
head of government
President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)
most recent election date
14 January 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
National color(s)
green, white
Political parties
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC Juwa Party (Parti Juwa) or PJ Orange Party (2020)
Legislative branch
note
note: opposition parties, which claimed there was "gross fraud" during the most recent election, boycotted the elections in 2020 and 2025
term in office
5 years
number of seats
33 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Assembly of the Union (Assemblée de l'Union)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
1/12/2025 to 2/16/2025
expected date of next election
January 2030
percentage of women in chamber
18.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) (31); Other (2)
National anthem(s)
title
"Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands)
history
adopted 1978
lyrics/music
Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH
National symbol(s)
four five-pointed stars and crescent moon
National coat of arms
the coat of arms is in the national colors of green and white; was adopted in 1978; the crescent and stars represent Islam, with the four stars also symbolizing the archipelago’s four main islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan, and Mayotte (the last of which is a French department claimed by Comoros); above and below the sun’s rays is the name of the nation written in French and Arabic; two olive branches, representing peace, are connected by a banner with the national motto in French, which translates as "Unity, Solidarity, Development"
Administrative divisions
3 islands; Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (212) 750-1657
chancery
Permanent Mission to the UN, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 495, New York, NY 10017
telephone
[1] (212) 750-1637
chief of mission
Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
email address and website
comoros@un.int https://www.un.int/comoros/
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the US Ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction