Reunion

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Reunion as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 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

1992

Every edition of Reunion

Populationas each edition published it

626,414 people July 1992 · 595,583 in 1990

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

2.8 children per woman 1992 · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 9 in 1990

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

Total area

2,510km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Coastline

201km

land boundaries: noneExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use

arable land 20%;
permanent crops 2%;
meadows and pastures 4%;
forest and woodland 35%;
other 39%;
includes irrigated 2%

Note

located 750 km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

People

14 fields

Population

626,414

(July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

26Death

5Net migration

Literacy

69%

(male 67%, female 74%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Nationality

noun - Reunionese (singular and plural); adjective - Reunionese

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

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

Organized labor

General Confederation of Workers of Reunion (CGTR)

Government

Overseas department of France

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

36.8%

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

Executive branch

French president, commissioner of the Republic

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:: Commissioner of the Republic Jacques DEWATRE (since July 1991)

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS;
Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD;
Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Paul VERGES;
France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON;
Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU;
Social Democrats (CDS);
other small parties

Elections

General Council:: last held September/October 1988 (next to be held NA 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (44 total) PCR 9, PS 4, UDF 6, other left-wing 2, RPR 4, right-wing 19
Regional Council:: last held 16 March 1986 (next to be held NA March 1992);
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 NA 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 NA June 1993);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (5 total) PCR 2, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1, FRA 1;
note - Reunion elects 3 members to the French Senate and 5 members to the French National Assembly who are voting members

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

Economy

The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

1.3%

(1988)

Unemployment rate

35%

(February 1991)

Budget

Revenues

$358 millionExpenditures

$914 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986)

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 has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force.

The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.

The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $3.37 billion, per capita $6,000 (1987 est.); real growth rate 9% (1987 est.)

Exports

$166 million (f.o.b., 1988)

commodities:: sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%, lobster 3%, vanilla and tea 1%
partners:: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy

Imports

$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)

commodities:: manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
partners:: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy