Guadeloupe

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Guadeloupe as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 72 fields, one of 17 editions from 1990 to 2006.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBasse-Terre

Area1,780 km2

1992

Every edition of Guadeloupe

Populationas each edition published it

409,132 people July 1992 · 342,175 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 76.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2 children per woman 1992 · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

10 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 17 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $4,700 in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Total area

1,780km2

Comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

306km

land boundaries: noneContinental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitationExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity

Terrain

Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation

Natural resources

cultivable land, beaches, and climate that foster tourism

Land use

arable land 18%;
permanent crops 5%;
meadows and pastures 13%;
forest and woodland 40%;
other 24%;
includes irrigated 1%

Environment

subject to hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano

Note

located 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

People

14 fields

Population

409,132

(July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

19Death

6Net migration

Literacy

90%

(male 90%, female 91%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Nationality

noun - Guadeloupian(s); adjective - Guadeloupe

Ethnic divisions

black or mulatto 90%;
white 5%;
East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Labor force

120,000; 53.0% services, government, and commerce, 25.8% industry, 21.2% agriculture

Government

Overseas department of France

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

33.1%

RPR 33.1%PSG 28.7%PCG 23.8%UDF 10.7%other 3.7%

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:: Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Paul PROUST (since November 1989)

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR), Marlene CAPTANT;
Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE;
Socialist Party (PSG), Dominique LARIFLA;
Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG);
Independent Republicans;
Union for French Democracy (UDF);
Union for a New Majority (UNM)

Elections

French National Assembly:: last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994);
Guadeloupe elects four representatives;
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (4 total) PS 2 seats, RPR 1 seat, PCG 1 seat
French Senate:: last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994);
Guadeloupe elects two representatives;
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (2 total) PCG 1, PS 1
General Council:: last held NA 1986 (next to be held by NA 1992);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (42 total) number of seats by party NA
Regional Council:: last held on 16 March 1992 (next to be held by 16 March 1998);
results - RPR 33.1%, PSG 28.7%, PCG 23.8%, UDF 10.7%, other 3.7%;
seats - (41 total) RPR 15, PSG 12, PCG 10, UDF 4

Other political or pressure groups

Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG);
Popular Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI);
General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG);
General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G);
Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)

Diplomatic representation

as an overseas department of France, the interests of Guadeloupe are represented in the US by France

Economy

The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. | It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

2.3%

(1988)

Unemployment rate

38%

(1987)

Budget

Revenues

$254 millionExpenditures

$254 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers.

Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, per capita $3,300; real growth rate NA% (1987)

Exports

$153 million (f.o.b., 1988)

commodities:: bananas, sugar, rum
partners:: France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)

Imports

$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988)

commodities:: vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum products
partners:: France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)

External debt

$NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced, 1,279 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Agriculture

cash crops - bananas and sugarcane;
other products include tropical fruits and vegetables;
livestock - cattle, pigs, and goats;
not self-sufficient in food

Communications

6 fields

9 total, 9 usable, 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m;
1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

domestic facilities inadequate;
57,300 telephones;
interisland radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to broadcast FM), 9 TV;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station

Defense Forces

French Forces, Gendarmerie

3 fields

How to cite ← 1991 edition 1993 edition →