Martinique

Department of MartiniqueDepartement de la Martinique

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Martinique as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 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

Position14 40 N, 61 00 W

Area1,100 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of

1996

Every edition of Martinique

Populationas each edition published it

399,151 people July 1996 est. · 340,381 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.1% 1996 est. · 1.21% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 32.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.81 years 1996 est. · 77.82 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.81 children per woman 1996 est. · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 11 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$10,000 1995 est. · $6,000 in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of | Trinidad and Tobago

14 fields

Area

1,100sq km

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

Coastline

350km

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

Irrigated land

60sq km

(1989 est.)

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Climate

tropical;
moderated by trade winds;
rainy season (June to October);
vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average;
average temperature 17.3 degrees C;
humid

Terrain

mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

lowest point:: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

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

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)
international agreements:: NA

People

15 fields

Population

399,151

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1.1% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

16.92Death

5.85Net migration

-0.1

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years78.81

76.07 · 81.68

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy93%

92% · 93%

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 46,851; female 45,300)
15-64 years:: 67% (male 132,161; female 135,707)
65 years and over:: 10% (male 16,542; female 22,590) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.73 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective:: Martiniquais

Ethnic divisions

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Government

Overseas department of France; President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995); President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992)

23 fields

Legislature, 41 seatsone dot, one seat

RPR-UDF 16MIM 9PPM 9PCM 5independents 2

Legislature, 2 seatsone dot, one seat

UDF 1PPM 1

Name of country

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)

Executive branch

chief of state:: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
head of government:: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992);

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Assembly

General Council

elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (44 total) number of seats by party NA;
note - the PPM won a plurality

Regional Assembly

elections last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (41 total) RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2

French Senate

elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1

French National Assembly

elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (4 total) RPR 2, UDF 1, PPM 1

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alex URSULET;
Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP);
Martinique Progressive Party (PPM), Aime CESAIRE;
Socialist Federation of Martinique (FSM), Jean CRUSOL;
Martinique Communist Party (PCM), George ERICHOT;
Martinique Patriots (PM);
Union for French Democracy (UDF), Miguel LAVENTURE;
Martinique Independence Movement (MIM), Alfred MARIE-JEANNE;
Republican Party (PR), Jean BAILLY

Other political or pressure groups

Proletarian Action Group (GAP);
Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group (GRS);
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance (ARC);
Central Union for Martinique Workers (CSTM), Marc PULVAR;
Frantz Fanon Circle;
League of Workers and Peasants;
Parti Martiniquais Socialiste (PMS);
Association for the Protection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)

International organization participation

FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in US

none (overseas department of France)

Flag

a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross;
in the center of each rectangle is a white snake;
the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

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

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$10,000

(1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.9%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

32.1%

(1990)

Labor force

121,600

by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1992)

GDP composition by sector(1992 est.)

agriculture 6%industry 11%services 83% (1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$657 millionExpenditures

$2.2 billion (1992 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 113,100 kW

Electricity production

761 millionElectricity consumption per capita

1,677 (1993)

The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. 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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $3.95 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture

pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane for rum

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

Exports

$218 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
partners:: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)

Imports

$1.76 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
partners:: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all

over 3 047 m

914 to 1 523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

1,690Railways

Highways: paved: 1,300 km · unpaved: 390 km

Highways

total:: 1,690 km
paved:: 1,300 km
unpaved:: 390 km

Ports

Fort-de-France, La Trinite

Merchant marine

none

Communications

French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie

8 fields

Fixed lines

159,000

(1990 est.)

Telephone system

domestic facilities are adequate

domestic:: NA
international:: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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