Martinique

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Martinique as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 67 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.

CapitalFort-de-France
Area1,100 km2
1990

Every edition of Martinique

Populationas each edition published it
340,381 people July 1990 · 436,131 in 2006
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 1.21% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 32.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 77.82 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.1 children per woman 1990 · 1.79 in 2006
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
11 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 6.95 in 2006
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $6,000 in 1993

Geography

13 fields
Total area
1,100km2
land area: 1,060 km2Comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
290km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Climate

  • tropical;
  • moderated by trade winds;
  • rainy season (June to October)

Terrain

mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Natural resources

coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use

  • 10% arable land;
  • 8% permanent crops;
  • 30% meadows and pastures;
  • 26% forest and woodland;
  • 26% other;
  • includes 5% irrigated

Environment

subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity that result in an average of one major natural disaster every five years

Note

located 625 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

People

14 fields
Population
340,381
(July 1990), growth rate 0.9% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
19Death
7

Ethnic divisions

African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture 90%Caucasian 5%less than 5% East Indian; Lebanese; Chinese

Religion

Roman Catholic 95%Hindu and pagan African 5%
Literacy
70%
over

Net migration rate

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate

11 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

71 years male, 77 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

2.1 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Martiniquais (sing. and pl.); adjective--Martiniquais

Language

French, Creole patois

Labor force

100,000; 31.7% service industry, 29.4% construction and public works, 13.1% agriculture, 7.3% industry, 2.2% fisheries, 16.3% other

Organized labor

11% of labor force

Government

Overseas department of France

18 fields

Long-form name

Department of Martinique

Type

overseas department of France

Capital

Fort-de-France

Administrative divisions

none (overseas department of France)

Independence

none (overseas department of France)

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

National holiday

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch

government commissioner

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
  • Head of Government--Government Commissioner Jean Claude ROURE (since 5 May 1989);
  • President of the General Council Emile MAURICE (since NA 1988)

Political parties

  • Rally for the Republic (RPR), Stephen Bago;
  • Union of the Left composed of the Progressive Party of Martinique (PPM), Aime Cesaire;
  • Socialist Federation of Martinique, Michael Yoyo;
  • and the Communist Party of Martinique (PCM), Armand Nicolas;
  • Union for French Democracy (UDF), Jean Maran

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18 General Council--last held on NA October 1988 (next to be held by March 1991);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(44 total) number of seats by party NA;
  • Regional Assembly--last held on 16 March 1986 (next to be held by March 1992);
  • results--UDF/RPR coalition 49.8%, PPM/FSM/PCM coalition 41.3%, others 8.9%;
  • seats--(41 total) PPM/FSM/PCM coalition 21, UDF/RPR coalition 20;
  • French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1;
  • French National Assembly--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(4 total) PPM 1, FSM 1, RPR 1, UDF 1

Communists

1,000 (est.)

Other political or pressure groups

  • Proletarian Action Group (GAP);
  • Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group (GRS), Martinique Independence Movement (MIM), Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance (ARC), Central Union for Martinique Workers (CSTM), Marc Pulvar;
  • Frantz Fanon Circle;
  • League of Workers and Peasants

Diplomatic representation

  • as an overseas department of France, Martiniquais interests are represented in the US by France;
  • US--Consul General Ray ROBINSON;
  • Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France (mailing address is B. P. 561, Fort-de-France);
  • telephone [596] 63-13-03

Flag

the flag of France is used

Economy

The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry.

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$1.3billion
per capita $3,650; real growth rate NA% (1984)

Budget

Revenues
$223 millionExpenditures
$223 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.)

Overview

The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 7% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 10%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, however, going mostly to France.

The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.

In 1984 the annual per capita income was relatively high at $3,650. During 1985 the unemployment rate was between 25% and 30% and was particularly severe among younger workers.

Unemployment rate

25-30% (1985)

Exports

  • $209 million (f.o.b., 1986);
  • commodities--refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples;
  • partners--France 65%, Guadeloupe 26% (1986)

Imports

  • $879 million (c.i.f., 1986);
  • commodities--petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods;
  • partners--France 64% (1986)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

108,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 990 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism

Agriculture

  • accounts for about 7% of GDP;
  • principal crops--pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, and sugarcane for rum;
  • dependent on imported food, particularly meat and vegetables

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $9.8 billion

Currency

French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1--5.7598 (January 1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

5 fields

Highways

1,680 km total; 1,300 km paved, 380 km gravel and earth

Ports

Fort-de-France

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

Airports

  • 2 total;
  • 2 usable;
  • 1 with permanent-surface runways;
  • 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
  • 1 with runways less than 2,439 m

Telecommunications

  • domestic facilities are adequate;
  • 68,900 telephones;
  • interisland radio relay links to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and St. Lucia;
  • stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Central Intelligence Agency. “Martinique.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/martinique/1990.

How to cite 1991 edition →