Comoros

With a population of about 1 million people, half of whom are under 20 years of age, Comoros is a densely populated archipelagic country consisting of three islands off Africa’s east coast in the Indian Ocean. Following over 20 coups or coup attempts since achieving independence from France in the 1970s, today Comoros is striving to solidify political stability and leverage its tourism prospects to alleviate poverty. 

Yet, the country’s location makes it one of the most climate-vulnerable in the world, with large parts of the population living in at-risk areas and facing poverty and food insecurity. The majority of the labor force remains engaged in agriculture, with spice exports being a significant component of government revenue subject to the global commodity market’s price fluctuations. Small retail and accommodation services are other drivers of the economy. Ineffective macroeconomic policies, lack of transparency, and the prevalence of informal labor activities continue to impede economic progress and hinder private sector initiatives.