Martinique

Department of MartiniqueDepartement de la Martinique

NAIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Martinique as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 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

1999

Every edition of Martinique

Populationas each edition published it

411,539 people July 1999 est. · 340,381 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.03% 1999 est. · 1.21% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 32.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

79.27 years 1999 est. · 77.82 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.8 children per woman 1999 est. · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

6.76 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 11 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$10,700 1996 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

411,539

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 1.03% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

16.3Death

5.94Net migration

-0.09

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)79.27

76.47 · 82.13

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1982 est.)93%

92% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 47,933; female 46,957)
15-64 years:: 67% (male 136,058; female 138,935)
65 years and over:: 10% (male 17,530; female 24,126) (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995); President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992)

20 fields

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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Dominique BELLION (since NA October 1998)
head of government:: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet:: NA
elections:: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
prefect appointed by the French president 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 NA March 1998 (next to be held by March 2004)
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--NA

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 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic or RPR

Political pressure groups and leaders

Proletarian Action Group Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC;
Central Union for League of Workers and Peasants;
Association for the Protection of

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.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$10,700

purchasing power parity? · (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.9%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

24%

(1997)

Labor force

160,000

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 6%industry 11%services 83% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$775 millionExpenditures

$2.15 billion (1996)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $118 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

855 million (1996)Electricity consumption

855 million (1996)

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.

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)