🇰🇲 Comoros

Comoros is a volcanic archipelago of 870,000 people between Madagascar and Mozambique, with a GDP of just $1.3 billion. It's one of the world's smallest and poorest countries, and also one of the most coup-prone — over 20 coups or attempted coups since independence in 1975. The islands produce about 80% of the world's ylang-ylang, an essential oil used in Chanel No. 5 and other luxury perfumes. Comoros claims the French island of Mayotte, which voted to remain French in a 1974 referendum. The country is predominantly Muslim and culturally tied to both the Arab world and East Africa.

Vanilla, ylang-ylang, and cloves are the main exports — together they're called the "perfume islands" crops. Remittances from the large diaspora in France (about 300,000 Comorians) contribute roughly 25% of GDP. Agriculture employs 80% of the population. The country imports nearly all manufactured goods and most food. Tourism is underdeveloped despite beautiful beaches and coral reefs.

A living coelacanth — a fish thought to have been extinct for 65 million years — was discovered in Comoros waters in 1938, one of the most significant zoological finds of the 20th century. The country's Grande Comore island has an active volcano, Mount Karthala, that has erupted over 20 times since the 19th century.

Comoros is too small and unstable to attract the investment it needs. The perfume crop niche is interesting but can't sustain a growing population. Political stability would be transformative but remains elusive.