Reunion

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Reunion as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 67 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.

CapitalSaint-Denis
Area2,510 km2
1990

Every edition of Reunion

Populationas each edition published it
595,583 people July 1990 · 787,584 in 2006
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 2.07% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 26.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 73.68 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.6 children per woman 1990 · 2.45 in 2006
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 7.63 in 2006
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $6,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 9% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Land useshare of 2,510 km2

arable land 20%permanent crops 2%meadows and pastures 4%forest and woodland 35%other 39%includes 2% irrigated
Total area
2,510km2
land area: 2,500 km2Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Coastline
201km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Climate

tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Environment

periodic devastating cyclones

Note

located 750 km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

People

14 fields
Population
595,583
(July 1990), growth rate 1.9% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
24Death
5Net migration
0

Infant mortality rate

9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

70 years male, 76 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Reunionese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Reunionese

Ethnic divisions

most of the population is of intermixed French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian ancestry

Religion

94% Roman Catholic

Language

French (official); Creole widely used

Literacy

NA%, but over 80% among younger generation

Labor force

  • NA;
  • 30% agriculture, 21% industry, 49% services (1981);
  • 63% of population of working age (1983)

Organized labor

General Confederation of Workers of Reunion (CGTR)

Government

Overseas department of France

17 fields

Regional Council, 45 seats, elected 16 March 1986one dot, one seat

RPR/UDF 18PCR 13FRA and other right wing 8PS 6

Percent of vote

RPR/UDF 36.8%PCR 28.2%FRA and other right wing 17.3%PS 14.1%other 3.6%

Long-form name

Department of Reunion

Type

overseas department of France

Capital

Saint-Denis

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

French president, Commissioner of the Republic

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council, unicameral Regional Council

Judicial branch

  • Court of Appeals (Cour d'appel) Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
  • Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN (since September 1989)

Political parties and leaders

  • Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois Mas;
  • Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert Gerard;
  • Communist Party of Reunion (PCR);
  • France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre Thien Ah Koon;
  • Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude Fruteau;
  • Social Democrats (CDS), other small parties

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18 Regional Council--last held 16 March 1986 (next to be held March 1991);
  • results--RPR/UDF 36.8%, PCR 28.2%, FRA and other right wing 17.3%, PS 14.1%, other 3.6%;
  • seats--(45 total) RPR/UDF 18, PCR 13, FRA and other right wing 8, PS 6;
  • French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(3 total) RPR-UDF 1, PS 1, independent 1;
  • French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(5 total) PCR 2, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1, FRA 1

Communists

Communist party small but has support among sugarcane cutters, the minuscule Popular Movement for the Liberation of Reunion (MPLR), and in the district of Le Port

Diplomatic representation

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

Flag

the flag of France is used

Economy

The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture.

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$2.4billion
per capita $4,290 (1985); real growth rate 9% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate
32.0%
high seasonal unemployment (1986)

Exports $136 million (f.o.b., 1986)commodities, where a share is given

sugar
75%rum and molasses
4%perfume essences
4%vanilla and tea
1%
; partners--France, Mauritius, Bahrain, S. Africa, Italy

Budget

Revenues
$358 millionExpenditures
$914 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986)

Overview

The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government is pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve a high unemployment rate that was over 30% in 1986. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.

Imports

  • $1.1 million (c.i.f., 1986);
  • commodities--manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products;
  • partners--France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

245,000 kW capacity; 546 million kWh produced, 965 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing handicraft items

Agriculture

  • accounts for 30% of labor force;
  • dominant sector of economy;
  • cash crops--sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco;
  • food crops--tropical fruits, vegetables, corn;
  • imports large share of food needs

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $13.5 billion

Currency

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

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1--5.7598 (January 1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

5 fields

Airports, 2 total, 2 usable

permanent-surface runways
2runways over 3,659 m
nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m
1runways 1,220-2,439 m
1

Highways

2,800 km total; 2,200 km paved, 600 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized earth

Ports

Pointe des Galets

Civil air

1 major transport aircraft

Telecommunications

  • adequate system for needs;
  • modern open-wire line and radio relay network;
  • principal center Saint-Denis;
  • radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
  • new radio relay route to Mauritius;
  • 85,900 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 13 FM, 1 (18 relays) TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

2 fields

Military manpower

males 15-49
158,812fit for military service
82,400reach military age (18) annually
6,075

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Central Intelligence Agency. “Reunion.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/reunion/1990.

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