Martinique

Department of Martinique

NAIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Martinique as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 91 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 Trinidad

1997

Every edition of Martinique

Populationas each edition published it

402,984 people July 1997 est. · 340,381 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.07% 1997 est. · 1.21% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 32.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.98 years 1997 est. · 77.82 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.81 children per woman 1997 est. · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 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

17 fields

Area

1,100sq km

land: 1,060 sq kmwater: 40 sq kmslightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

350km

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

Highest point

1,397m

Montagne Peleelowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Irrigated land

40sq km

(1993 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

Natural resources

coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use

arable land:: 8%
permanent crops:: 8%
permanent pastures:: 17%
forests and woodland:: 44%
other :: 23% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)

Environment - international agreements

party to:: NA
signed, but not ratified:: NA

People

15 fields

Population

402,984

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.07% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

16.69Death

5.88Net migration

-0.09

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1997 est.)78.98

76.21 · 81.83

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1982 est.)93%

92% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 46,906; female 45,800)
15-64 years:: 67% (male 133,500; female 136,773) 65 years and over : 10% (male 16,890; female 23,115) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

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

NA; President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)

20 fields

General Council, 41 seats, elected NA March 1994one dot, one seat

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

Country name

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)
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)
cabinet:: NA
elections:: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior;
the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:: General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Assembly - last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998)
election results:: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA;
note - the PPM won a plurality;
Regional Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2

note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA;

seats by party - PS 2; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 3, PS 1

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre LESUEUR];
Union for a Martinique of Progress or UMP;
Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU];
Socialist Federation of Martinique or FSM [Jean CRUSOL];
Martinique Communist Party or PCM [George ERICHOT];
Martinique Patriots or PM;
Union for French Democracy or UDF [Miguel LAVENTURE];
Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE];
Republican Party or PR [Jean BAILLY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas department of France)

Flag description

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.

22 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

3.9%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

23.5%

(1993)

Labor force

160,000

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

Debt - external

$180million

(1994)

GDP - composition by sector(1992 est.)

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

Budget

Revenues

$620 millionExpenditures

$2.1 billion (1992)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $170 million

Economy - overview

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.

GDP

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

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

NA kW

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:: $220 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
partners:: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)

Imports

total value :: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities:: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
partners:: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

209,672

(1994 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)