COUNTRY PROFILE

Comoros Flag, Capital and Country Facts

The Comoros is located in the Indian Ocean between the East African coast and Madagascar. The island nation comprises three major inhabited main islands. Nevertheless, four stripes and four stars appear on the flag because the national symbolism also includes the claim to Mayotte. Geographical archipelago, territory and political aspirations must be distinguished here.

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Comoros Flag: Meaning & Country Facts · supplied learning collection

Comoros at a glance

Capital: Moroni
Quiz continent: Africa
Languages in reference record: Comorian (Shikomori), Arabic and French
Currency: Comoros franc (KMF)
Population: 882,847 (2025, World Bank)
Area: 1,862 km²
Coastal setting: Not landlocked
ISO codes: KM / COM
Internet country suffix: .km

Largest island: Grande Comore / Ngazidja
Other main island: Anjouan / Ndzuwani
Smaller main island: Mohéli/Mwali
Highest mountain: Karthala, approximately 2,360 m
Marine space: Northern Mozambique Canal
Independence: 6 July 1975

Comoros Flag: Design, Meaning and History

Four equally wide horizontal stripes point from top to bottom yellow, white, red and blue. On the left is a green triangle with a white crescent moon and four white five-pointed stars. The stars are perpendicular between the tips of the crescent. The contrast between the four stripes and the green triangle makes the flag particularly colorful.

The four stripes and four stars refer to the four main islands of the archipelago: Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan and Mayotte. However, Mayotte is administered by France and does not belong to the effectively administered territory of the Union of the Comoros. Green and crescent are in Islamic symbolic tradition. The flag thus also represents a political idea.

Capital: Moroni

Moroni is located on the west coast of Grande Comore, whose Comorian name is Ngazidja. The capital is a political and economic focus on the largest island. The volcano Karthala characterizes the island far beyond the urban area. In an island state, the capital city location, port and connections to the other islands are closely linked.

The city belongs to the history of the coastal settlements of the western Indian Ocean. Arab, African and later European contacts are essential for this area. Since 2026, the UNESCO Country Profile has been a World Heritage Site for the Medinas of the Historic Sultanates. This entry illustrates that the cultural history of the archipelago does not begin with the European colonial period.

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Comoros: Geography, History and Culture

The islands are of volcanic origin and are located at the northern entrance of the Mozambique Canal. Grande Comore has an active volcano with the Karthala. Mohéli and Anjouan each have their own relief and coastal forms. Separation by the sea means that short distances on the map do not allow for the same everyday connections as on a contiguous land area.

Comorian belongs to the linguistic environment of Swahili and has different island variants. Arabic and French have additional religious, historical and public functions. The situation between Africa and Madagascar explains the contacts, without it being possible to derive a single line of origin for the entire population. Island-related identities and common state affiliation coexist.

The cultivation of fragrance and spice plants, including ylang-ylang, is one of the well-known economic characteristics. The UNESCO profile lists the cultural landscape of perfume plantations on the proposal list. Similarly, marine ecosystems and protected areas are important issues. Inscribed cultural heritage, other proposals and nature reserves are different categories and should not be mixed together in a country portrait.

Four symbols, three main islands

The state administration includes Grande Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan. The fourth star and stripe symbol refers to Mayotte and the Comorian claim.

Karthala on Grande Comore

The volcano is a central landscape feature of the main island. It shows the volcanic origin of the archipelago particularly clearly.

Medinas of the Sultanates

UNESCO has listed the historical medinas as a World Heritage Site since 2026. They complement the image of the country, which is often limited to nature and island holidays.