Comoros

Is Comoros safe to visit?

Yes, for most visitors, as long as you plan for illness and accidents. Crime is low: the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says street robbery is rare, and neither it nor the US reports serious crime aimed at foreigners. The risks are the roads, the boats between the islands, malaria and hospitals that cannot handle serious cases. Politics can also spill onto the streets after elections. The US rates Comoros Level 2, and the UK advises against no part of the country. We score Comoros 56, above Madagascar (47) but well below Seychelles (77) and Mauritius (78).

The data is poor even by the standards of small states. There is no homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary in UNODC's series at all, only a WHO model (7.6 per 100,000 in 2021), and the road and malaria figures are WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary too, so treat the numbers on this page as rough.

Protests and politics

Unrest is the main reason the US gives for its Level 2 rating, along with crime and health. Protests break out with little warning, mostly in Moroni, and the US says some have turned violent, with damage to property. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says they are most likely after elections and have blocked roads in Moroni, including the road between the city and the airport. After the January 2024 presidential election one protester was killed and several were injured in clashes with security forces, and the UK briefly advised against all but essential travel before lifting the advice when calm returned.

The FCDO also notes some anti-French feeling because of the long-standing dispute between Comoros and France over the island of Mayotte, and occasional demonstrations on the issue. Keep away from crowds, and if you hear of protests, stay put until the roads clear. The FCDO says there is no recent history of terrorism.

The US has no full-time presence in Comoros; Americans are served from the embassy in Madagascar.

Roads and boats

WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 29.0 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, the figure we score on; its older 2019 series gave a slightly lower 26.6. On Grande Comore the main ring road is in reasonable shape, but many other roads are in poor condition. Drive slowly and avoid driving at night, when unlit roads are hardest to read. A UK photocard licence is valid for three months.

The sea is a bigger worry for anyone island-hopping. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says the boats between Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli can be overloaded, in poor condition and without life jackets, and overloaded vessels have capsized with heavy loss of life. Fly between the islands if you can. Piracy remains a risk further north, off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

Malaria and medical care

CDC says malaria is present on all islands. WHO estimatedWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 63 cases per 1,000 people at risk in 2024, against 25 in 2023, a sharp rise, so take antimalarial tablets, use repellent and sleep under a net. CDC also says rabid dogs are common and rabies vaccine may only be found in larger towns.

Medical care is the weakest link. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says facilities on all three islands are basic, most are private, and power and water cuts affect hospitals. There is no national ambulance number: you call the hospital directly (El Maarouf in Moroni, Fomboni on Mohéli, Hombo on Anjouan). The US says serious injuries and illnesses often need evacuation, so insurance that covers it is essential.

Volcano and cyclones

Karthala, the volcano that rises above Moroni, is active and last erupted in 2007. Check the latest monitoring before you hike it and go with a guide. Tropical cyclones can affect the islands from January to May; follow local news and the World Meteorological Organization's forecasts.

Local rules and money

Comoros is a Sunni Muslim country, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says clothes should loosely cover the body from shoulders to knees. Alcohol is sold in hotels, but drinking or being drunk in public is illegal and can lead to a fine or prison. During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public during the day. Ask before photographing people, and avoid photographing military and police buildings. There are very few ATMs, cards are not always accepted, and some hotels take euros but give change in Comorian francs, so bring enough cash for the whole trip.

How we scored it

Road safety (31) and health (35) are the weakest factors, for the crash estimate, malaria and very limited hospitals. Violent crime (74) and conflict (72) score highest, because serious crime is rare and unrest comes in short bursts after elections. Without any recorded homicide data, the violent crime score rests on WHO's modelled rate and advisory descriptions, which is why confidence is low.