On this page 5 sections
Two political entities
| Union of the Comoros | Mayotte | |
|---|---|---|
| Islands | Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan | Grande-Terre, Petite-Terre and islets |
| Status | Independent state since 1975 | French department since 2011 |
| Capital / main town | Moroni | Mamoudzou |
| Currency | Comorian franc (KMF) | Euro |
| Official languages | Comorian, French, Arabic | French |
The Union of the Comoros claims sovereignty over Mayotte. This question, debated since independence, is the subject of differing positions between the two countries.
A young and dense population
The archipelago has a total of just over a million inhabitants: about 850,000 in the Union of the Comoros and more than 300,000 in Mayotte according to recent estimates. Population densities are among the highest in Africa, especially on Anjouan. The population is very young: nearly half of the inhabitants are under twenty.
Towns and villages
The main towns are Moroni (Grande Comore), Mutsamudu (Anjouan), Fomboni (Mohéli) and Mamoudzou (Mayotte). But social life is organised first and foremost around the village, with its mosque, its public square and its notables. Everyone remains attached to their home village, even after years spent abroad.
The diaspora
A large diaspora lives outside the archipelago, in mainland France (Marseille is often described as the “fifth island”), in Réunion, in Mayotte, in East Africa and in the Gulf. Its remittances play a major role in the economy, and its return in summer sets the rhythm of the grand marriage season.
Economy
Subsistence farming (cassava, bananas, breadfruit, rice), small-scale fishing and export crops (ylang-ylang, vanilla, cloves) remain essential in the Union of the Comoros. In Mayotte, the economy relies largely on public services, trade and construction. Tourism, still modest, has great potential thanks to the landscapes and culture of the archipelago.
