Economy - overview:
One of the world's poorest and smallest economies, the Comoros is made up of three islands that are hampered by 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 and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, accounts for about 50% of GDP, employs a majority of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. Export income is heavily reliant on the three main crops of vanilla, cloves, and ylang ylang (perfume essence); and the Comoros' export earnings are easily disrupted by disasters such as fires and extreme weather. Despite agriculture’s importance to the economy, the country imports roughly 70% of its food; rice, the main staple, and other dried vegetables account for more than 25% of imports. Remittances from about 300,000 Comorans contribute about 25% of the country’s GDP. France, Comoros’s colonial power, remains a key trading partner and bilateral donor.

Comoros faces an education system in need of upgrades, limited opportunities for private commercial and industrial enterprises, poor health services, limited exports, and a high population growth rate. Recurring political instability, sometimes initiated from outside the country, and an ongoing electricity crisis have inhibited growth. The government, elected in mid-2016, has moved to improve revenue mobilization, reduce expenditures, and improve electricity access, although the public sector wage bill remains one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. In mid-2017, Comoros joined the Southern African Development Community with 15 other regional member states.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.319 billion (2017 est.)
$1.284 billion (2016 est.)
$1.257 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 201
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$652 million (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2017 est.)
2.2% (2016 est.)
1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 125
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2017 est.)
$1,600 (2016 est.)
$1,600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 216
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
17.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
13.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
18% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 117
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 92.6% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 20.4% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 20% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: -3.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 17.2% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -47.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 47.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 11.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 40.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc)

Industries:
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 154
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
278,500 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 166
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 20% (1996 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 96
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
44.8% (2004 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.9%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
55.9 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 8
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 165.2 million (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 207.3 million (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
25.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 117
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-6.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 188
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
32.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
27.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 160
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2017 est.)
1.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 50
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
1.93% (31 December 2010)
2.21% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 120
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
10.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 81
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$200.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$180.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 183
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$200.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$180.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 186
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$208.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$183.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 184
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$27 million (2017 est.)
-$45 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 74
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$18.9 million (2017 est.)
$17.9 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 212
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
France 36.5%, India 12.2%, Germany 8.2%, Pakistan 6.3%, Switzerland 5.8%, South Korea 4.7%, Russia 4.3% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves

Imports:
$207.8 million (2017 est.)
$189.9 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 209
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement and construction materials, transport equipment

Imports - partners:
UAE 32.8%, France 17.3%, China 13.2%, Madagascar 6.1%, Pakistan 4.5%, India 4.3% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$208 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$159.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 173
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$199.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$132 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 189
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar -
458.2 (2017 est.)
444.76 (2016 est.)
444.76 (2015 est.)
443.6 (2014 est.)
370.81 (2013 est.)