Reunion
overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)
Reunion as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 fields, one of 17 editions from 1990 to 2006.
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Geography
Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 750 km east of | Madagascar
22 fieldstotal area
2,510 sq km
land area
2,500 sq km
comparative area
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
Climate
tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
arable land
20%
permanent crops
2%
meadows and pastures
4%
forest and woodland
35%
other
39%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
periodic, devastating cyclones
international agreements
NA
People
22 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
74.07 years
male
71 years
female
77.29 years (1994 est.)
noun
Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective
Reunionese
total population
69%
male
67%
female
74%
by occupation
agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
note
63% of population of working age (1983)
Government
Overseas department of France
27 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 45 seatsone dot, one seat
Legislature, 3 seatsone dot, one seat
conventional long form
Department of Reunion
conventional short form
Reunion
local long form
none
local short form
Ile de la Reunion
chief of state
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government
Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since NA)
cabinet
Council of Ministers
General Council
- elections last held 22 March 1991 (next to be held March 1997);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (44 total) seats by party NA
Regional Council
- elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA March 1998);
- results - UPF 25.6%, PCR 17.9%, PS 10.5%, Independent 33.4%, other 12.6%;
- seats - (45 total) Sudre 17, UPF 14, PCR 9, PS 5
French Senate
- elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (3 total) RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1
French National Assembly
- elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1;
- note - 5 members to the French National Assembly who are voting members
Political parties and leaders
- Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS;
- Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD;
- Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU;;
- France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON;
- Reunion Communist Party (PCR);
- Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU;
- Social Democrats (CDS);
- other small parties
Economy
The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture.
25 fieldsOverview
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.
revenues
$358 million
expenditures
$914 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)
commodities
sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%, lobster 3%, vanilla and tea 1%
partners
France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
commodities
manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
partners
France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
capacity
245,000 kW
production
750 million kWh
consumption per capita
1,230 kWh (1991)
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
recipient
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $14.8 billion
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
Communications
11 fieldstotal
2,800 km
paved
2,200 km
unpaved
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km
total
2
usable
2
with permanent-surface runways
2
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
1
Telecommunications
- adequate system;
- modern open-wire and microwave network;
- principal center Saint-Denis;
- radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
- new microwave route to Mauritius;
- 85,900 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 3 AM, 13 FM, 1 (18 repeaters) TV;
- 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Defense Forces
French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie)
3 fieldsManpower availability
- males age 15-49 170,810;
- fit for military service 88,108;
- reach military age (18) annually 5,867 (1994 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Reunion.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/reunion/1994.