Eastern Africa · AfricaComoros
Discover Comoros - volcanic islands between Africa and Madagascar, the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang, and home to the living fossil coelacanth.
Where Is Comoros?
Comoros is a country in Eastern Africa. Its capital is Moroni.
- Capital Moroni
- Population 883K
- Area 1,862 km²
Comoros is the kind of place most people couldn't point to on a map, which is precisely what makes it interesting. Sitting in the Mozambique Channel between mainland Africa and Madagascar, this archipelago of four volcanic islands smells like a perfume factory. That's not a metaphor - Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang, the essential oil that ends up in Chanel No. 5 and most of the expensive perfumes you've never been able to afford. Vanilla and cloves round out the aromatic trifecta, earning the country the nickname "The Perfume Islands."
The real showstopper, though, swims offshore. In 1952, a fisherman near Comoros hauled up a coelacanth - a fish that scientists believed had been extinct for 65 million years. The waters around these islands remain one of the only places on Earth where this living fossil persists. On land, Mount Karthala on Grande Comore is one of the world's most active volcanoes, with a summit crater lake that changes color between eruptions. The country has experienced over twenty coups or attempted coups since independence in 1975, making it one of the most politically turbulent nations on the planet - yet the people remain remarkably warm, the beaches remain stunning, and the spice trade keeps humming along.
At a glance
Largest cities in Comoros
Moroni
Mutsamudu
Fomboni
Famous people from Comoros
Ahmed Abdallah
PoliticsFirst president of independent Comoros who declared unilateral independence from France in 1975 and shaped the country's early political trajectory
Said Mohamed Cheikh
PoliticsKey figure in the Comorian independence movement and president of the governing council who pushed for self-determination
El-Amine Mouigni Abdou
SportComorian footballer who played in the French leagues and became a symbol of the diaspora's sporting talent
Traditional cuisine of Comoros
- Langouste a la Vanille
- Lobster cooked in locally grown vanilla sauce, a signature dish that showcases the island's prized vanilla crop
- Pilao
- Spiced rice dish with meat, similar to pilaf, seasoned with cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves from the islands' own spice gardens
- Mataba
- Cassava leaves slow-cooked in coconut milk, a creamy and rich everyday staple across all three islands
- Mkatra Foutra
- Coconut rice cake baked on banana leaves, slightly sweet and dense, eaten at breakfast and celebrations
Nature and landmarks in Comoros
- Mount KarthalaVolcano
- One of the world's most active volcanoes at 2,361 meters, with a massive summit crater and a lake that changes color between eruptions
- Moheli Marine ParkNational Park
- First marine protected area in Comoros, a nesting ground for green sea turtles and home to coelacanths in its deep waters
- Lac SaleLake
- Volcanic crater lake on Grande Comore, a sacred site surrounded by dense tropical forest and local legend
- Livingstone's Fruit Bat ColonyForest
- Anjouan island hosts one of the last populations of the endangered Livingstone's fruit bat, one of the world's largest bats
Sports in Comoros
- Football
- The Coelacanths made their first ever AFCON appearance in 2022 in Cameroon, a historic milestone for the tiny island nation
- Basketball
- Growing youth basketball scene supported by diaspora connections to France, with regular inter-island competitions
Did you know?
Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang essential oil, a key ingredient in Chanel No. 5 and most luxury perfumes
A coelacanth - a fish thought extinct for 65 million years - was caught alive near Comoros in 1952, one of the greatest zoological discoveries ever
The country has experienced over twenty coups or attempted coups since independence in 1975, more than almost any other nation
Mount Karthala erupted in 2005 and blanketed the capital Moroni in ash, yet locals simply swept their roofs and carried on
The fourth island of the archipelago, Mayotte, voted to remain French in 1974 and is now an EU territory in the Indian Ocean
Can you find Comoros on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Comoros and its neighbours without a second thought.
