The Comoros, formally the Union of the Comoros, is an archipelagic country in the Indian Sea, at the northern end of the Mozambique Network off the eastern coastline of Africa. It shares naval boundaries with Madagascar and also Mayotte to the southeast, Tanzania to the northwest, Mozambique to the west, and also the Seychelles to the northeast. Its funding and largest city is Moroni. The religious beliefs of the majority of the populace, as well as the official state faith, is Sunni Islam. As a member of the Arab Organization, it is the only country in the Arab world which is totally in the Southern Hemisphere. It is likewise a participant state of the African Union, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Teamwork, and also the Indian Ocean Compensation. The country has three official languages: Comorian, French as well as Arabic.

At 1,861 km2 (719 sq mi), excluding the disputed island of Mayotte, the Comoros is the fourth-smallest African nation by location. Its population, excluding Mayotte, is approximated at 850,886 residents since 2019. As a nation developed at a crossroads of different civilisations, the island chain is kept in mind for its diverse society and background.

The sovereign state includes 3 major islands as well as various smaller sized islands, all in the volcanic Comoro Islands. The significant islands are frequently understood by their French names: northwesternmost Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), as well as Anjouan (Ndzwani). The country also asserts a fourth major island, southeasternmost Mayotte (Maore), although Mayotte voted against independence from France in 1974. Because that vote Mayotte has never ever been administered by an independent Comoros federal government, and remains to be provided by France as an overseas division. France has banned United Nations Security Council resolutions that would certainly attest Comorian sovereignty over the island. On top of that, Mayotte ended up being an overseas division and a region of France in 2011 adhering to a referendum which was passed overwhelmingly.

Comoros was most likely first settled by Austronesians ultimately complied with by Bantu speakers from East Africa in addition to Arabs. It after that became part of the French colonial empire throughout the 19th century, before its freedom in 1975. Ever since, it has actually experienced more than 20 coups or tried coups, with numerous presidents assassinated. Together with this continuous political instability, it has one of the most awful revenue inequality of any nation, as well as rates in the most awful quartile on the Person Development Index. Since 2008, concerning half the populace lived below the global poverty line of US$ 1.25 a day.  The French insular region of Mayotte, one of the most flourishing area in the Mozambique Channel, is a significant destination for travelers from the independent islands.