Comoros statistics — population, economy, trade and telecom
As African development frameworks mature into 2026, small island economies like Comoros often receive less analytical attention than their continental neighbours — yet the Union of the Comoros presents a revealing case study in fragility, demographic pressure, and incremental reform. Situated at the northern entrance to the Mozambique Channel, the archipelago’s statistics illuminate the structural challenges facing small island developing states (SIDS) across the African Union, making its data a meaningful reference point for regional policymakers, investors, and development partners.
Population and Demographics
Comoros has a population of approximately 870,000 to 900,000 people, based on World Bank and UN Population Division estimates referencing 2024 data. The population growth rate sits at roughly 2.2 to 2.4 percent per year — well above the global average and placing sustained pressure on public services, land use, and employment generation. The median age is estimated at around 20 years, reflecting an exceptionally young population structure that will define labour market dynamics for the next two decades. Urbanisation remains relatively low by regional standards, with approximately 30 to 32 percent of the population living in urban areas, concentrated primarily on Grande Comore and the capital Moroni. The diaspora dimension is significant: a large Comorian community in France and Mayotte contributes meaningfully to household incomes through remittances, which function as a de facto social safety net for many families.
Economic Indicators
World Bank estimates put Comoros’s gross domestic product at roughly 1.3 to 1.4 billion USD in current prices for 2024, making it one of the smaller economies on the African continent. GDP per capita stands at approximately 1,500 to 1,600 USD, placing the country in the lower-middle-income category by some classifications, though human development indicators remain constrained. Real GDP growth has been modest, with IMF projections for 2024 and 2025 suggesting expansion in the range of 3 to 4 percent annually — positive but insufficient to meaningfully reduce poverty at the pace required by the country’s demographic trajectory. Inflation has been a concern across the post-pandemic period; consumer price inflation was estimated at roughly 7 to 9 percent in recent years, though the Comorian franc’s peg to the euro through the French Treasury arrangement provides a degree of monetary stability uncommon among similarly sized African economies. Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, is structurally high — industry reports suggest figures above 20 percent when underemployment is factored in. The public debt-to-GDP ratio is estimated by the IMF at approximately 30 to 35 percent, which is comparatively manageable, though external debt servicing and concessional loan dependency remain ongoing concerns.
Trade and External Accounts
Comoros runs a persistent and substantial current account deficit, reflecting its heavy dependence on imports for food, fuel, and manufactured goods. The country’s export base is narrow: vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang essential oil constitute the dominant export commodities, with Comoros historically ranking among the world’s top producers of ylang-ylang. France, the United Arab Emirates, and India are among the principal trading partners on both the export and import sides. The import bill is significantly larger than export revenues, with the gap partially bridged by remittances — estimated by World Bank data to represent roughly 20 to 25 percent of GDP, one of the highest ratios in Africa. Foreign direct investment inflows remain limited, and the current account deficit is estimated to run at roughly 5 to 8 percent of GDP in recent reference years, underscoring the economy’s structural vulnerability to external shocks including commodity price fluctuations and shipping cost volatility.
Key Sectors
Agriculture remains the backbone of the Comorian economy, employing a large share of the working population and contributing an estimated 35 to 40 percent of GDP when subsistence farming is included. The sector is dominated by smallholder production of cash crops — particularly the aromatic and spice exports noted above — alongside subsistence cultivation of cassava, bananas, and sweet potatoes. Fishing is economically significant given the archipelago’s exclusive economic zone, though the sector remains underdeveloped relative to its potential. The services sector, including government services, retail trade, and informal commerce, accounts for the largest share of formal GDP. Tourism has been identified as a strategic growth sector by successive Comorian governments and African Development Bank assessments; the islands possess considerable natural assets including marine biodiversity and volcanic landscapes, but visitor numbers remain low — roughly 30,000 to 50,000 international arrivals annually — constrained by limited air connectivity, infrastructure gaps, and security perceptions. Industry and manufacturing are minimal, contributing a small fraction of GDP. Construction activity, partly donor-financed, has provided some stimulus in recent years.
Telecommunications and Digital
The telecommunications landscape in Comoros is evolving from a low base. Mobile penetration is estimated at roughly 60 to 70 percent of the population, according to ITU and GSMA data referencing 2023 to 2024 figures, with Comoros Telecom (Telma Comores) functioning as the dominant operator alongside smaller competitors. Internet penetration remains limited, with estimates suggesting active internet users represent approximately 25 to 35 percent of the population — a figure constrained by device affordability, electricity access reliability, and the cost of data relative to average incomes. Mobile money adoption is growing but lags behind East African benchmarks; services linked to regional platforms are expanding, and industry reports suggest increasing uptake particularly among the diaspora remittance corridor. The government has signalled digital economy development as a priority within national development planning, and submarine cable connectivity improvements in the broader Indian Ocean region are expected to gradually reduce bandwidth costs and improve service quality through the mid-2020s.
Sources and Methodology
This dashboard draws on publicly available data from the World Bank Open Data platform, the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook and Article IV consultation reports, the United Nations Population Division, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the GSMA Intelligence database, the African Development Bank’s African Economic Outlook, and the African Union Commission. Where precise figures were unavailable or subject to revision, approximating language has been used to reflect genuine data uncertainty rather than false precision. National statistics are sourced where available from the Direction Nationale de la Statistique et des Études Économiques (DNSEE) of Comoros, though capacity constraints mean national data series are sometimes incomplete or published with significant lags. All figures should be treated as indicative reference points and verified against primary sources for investment or policy decision-making purposes.
For deeper qualitative and geopolitical context behind these numbers, visit the Comoros expert briefing. To benchmark Comoros against other African nations, explore all African country statistics on this platform. For broader analysis of structural trends shaping the continent’s economies, see our African economy pillar coverage.
