Martinique

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Martinique as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 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
1992

Every edition of Martinique

Populationas each edition published it
371,803 people July 1992 · 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
1.9 children per woman 1992 · 2.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
11 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 11 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $6,000 in 1993

Geography

13 fields
Total area
1,100km2
Comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
290km
land boundaries: noneExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land area

1,060 km2

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
371,803
(July 1992), growth rate 1.4% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth
19Death
6Net migration
1
Literacy
93%
(male 92%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Infant mortality rate

11 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth

75 years male, 81 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality

noun - Martiniquais (singular and plural); adjective - Martiniquais

Ethnic divisions

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Languages

French, Creole patois

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%

Organized labor

11% of labor force

Government

Overseas department of France

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

49.8%
UDF/RPR coalition 49.8%PPM/FSM/PCM coalition 41.3%other 8.9%

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Leaders

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)

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Elections

General Council:
  • last held in 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

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

Member of

FZ, WCL

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 [596] 63-13-03

Flag

the flag of France is used

Economy

16 fields

Budget

Revenues
$268 millionExpenditures
$268 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Overview

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.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $2.0 billion, per capita $6,000; real growth rate NA% (1986)

Exports

$196 million (f.o.b., 1988)

commodities:
refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
partners:
France 65%, Guadeloupe 24%, Germany (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, Germany, Japan, US (1987)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

113,100 kW capacity; 588 million kWh produced, 1,703 kWh per capita (1991)

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

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.1 billion

Currency

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

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.3801 (January 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)

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 runway 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;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Defense Forces

French Forces, Gendarmerie

3 fields

Branches

French Forces, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability

males 15-49, 95,235; NA fit for military service

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Central Intelligence Agency. “Martinique.” The World Factbook 1992. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/martinique/1992.

How to cite ← 1991 edition 1993 edition →