Martinique

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Martinique as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 65 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

1991

Every edition of Martinique

Populationas each edition published it

345,180 people July 1991 · 340,381 in 1990

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 1991 · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

10 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 11 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $6,000 in 1993

Geography

10 fields

Total area

1,100km2

land area: 1,060 km2Comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

290 km Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

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

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

345,180

(July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

19Death

Literacy

93%

(male 92%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Religion

Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Labor force

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

Government

Overseas department of France

17 fields

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) 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%, other 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

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 Raymond G. ROBINSON;
Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France (mailing address is B. P. 561, Fort-de-France 97206);
telephone [590] 63-13-03

Economy

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

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$2.0billion

per capita $6,000; real growth rate NA% (1986)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.9%

(1989)

Unemployment rate

30%

(1986)

Budget

Revenues

$268 millionExpenditures

$268 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 12% 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, 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 1986 per capita GDP was relatively high at $6,000. During 1986 the unemployment rate was 30% and was particularly severe among younger workers.

Exports

$196 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples;
partners--France 65%, Guadeloupe 24%, FRG (1987)

Imports

$1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods;
partners--France 65%, UK, Italy, FRG, Japan, US (1987)

External debt

$NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

113,000 kW capacity; 564 million kWh produced, 1,660 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

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

Agriculture

including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 12% of GDP;
principal crops--pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, and sugarcane for rum;
dependent on imported food, particularly meat and vegetables

Communications

5 fields

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 Saint Lucia;
stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Defense Forces

French Forces, Gendarmerie

3 fields

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