Martinique

Department of MartiniqueDepartement de la Martinique

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Martinique as the 1993 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.

CapitalFort-de-France

Area1,100 km2

Locationin the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela

1993

Every edition of Martinique

Populationas each edition published it

387,656 people July 1993 est. · 340,381 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.21% 1993 est. · 0.72% in 2006

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 32.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.82 years 1993 est. · 79.18 yrs in 2006

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.94 children per woman 1993 est. · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

10.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 11 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,000 1988 · $14,400 in 2006

Geography

In the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela

13 fields

Area

1,100km2

land area: 1,060 km2comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

290km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Irrigated land

60km2

(1989 est.)

Location

in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean, South America

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%

Environment

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

People

14 fields

Population

387,656

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 1.21% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

18.07Death

5.94Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years77.82

74.68 · 81.01

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy93%

92% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force

100,000

by occupation: service industry 31.7%, construction and public works 29.4%, agriculture 13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%, other 16.3%

Infant mortality rate

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

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%

Government

Overseas department of France

21 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Department of Martinique
conventional short form:: Martinique
local long form:: Departement de la Martinique
local short form:: Martinique

National holiday

National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR);
Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP);
Martinique Progressive Party (PPM);
Socialist Federation of Martinique (FSM);
Martinique Communist Party (PCM);
Martinique Patriots (PM);
Union for French Democracy (UDF)

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

Elections

French Senate:: last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA);
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
General Council:: last held in 25 September and 8 October 1988 (next to be held by NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (44 total) number of seats by party NA;
note - a leftist coalition obtained a one-seat margin
Regional Assembly:: last held on NA March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (41 total) UMP 16

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)

Diplomatic representation in US

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

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Consul General Raymond G. ROBINSON
embassy:: Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France
mailing address:: B. P. 561, Fort-de-France 97206
telephone:: [596] 63-13-03

Economy

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$6,000

(1988)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.9%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

32.1%

(1990)

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 10% 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.

Banana workers launched protests late in 1992 because of falling banana prices and fears of greater competition in the European market from other producers.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1988)

National product real growth rate

NA%

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, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
partners:: France 65%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1987)

External debt

$NA

Electricity

113,100 kW capacity; 588 million kWh produced, 1,580 kWh per capita (1992)

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, sugarcane for rum;
dependent on imported food, particularly meat and vegetables

Communications

4 fields

total:: 2
useable:: 2
with permanent-surface runways:: 1
with runways over 3,659 m:: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 0

Telecommunications

domestic facilities are adequate;
68,900 telephones;
interisland microwave 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

2 fields

Branches

French Forces, Gendarmerie

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Central Intelligence Agency. “Martinique.” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/martinique/1993.

How to cite ← 1992 edition 1994 edition →