Reunion

Department of Reunion

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Reunion as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 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 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of

1995

Every edition of Reunion

Populationas each edition published it

666,067 people July 1995 est. · 595,583 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.98% 1995 est. · 2.07% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 26.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

74.46 years 1995 est. · 73.68 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.75 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 9 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,900 1993 est. · $6,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 9% in 1993

Geography

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of | Madagascar

13 fields

Land useshare of 2,510 sq km

arable land 20%permanent crops 2%meadows and pastures 4%forest and woodland 35%other 39%irrigated 60 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

2,510sq km

land area: 2,500 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Coastline

201km

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

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

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

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
international agreements:: NA

People

15 fields

Population

666,067

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.98% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

24.59Death

4.79Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years74.46

71.39 · 77.67

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy79%

76% · 80%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 32% (female 104,924; male 109,972)
15-64 years:: 62% (female 210,762; male 203,774)
65 years and over:: 6% (female 21,606; male 15,029) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian

Labor force

NA; by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)

Government

Overseas department of France; President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since NA)

22 fields

Legislature, 47 seatsone dot, one seat

PCR 12PS 12UDF 11RPR 5others 7

Legislature, 45 seatsone dot, one seat

UPF 17Free-Dom Movement 13PCR 9PS 6

Names

conventional long form:: Department of Reunion
conventional short form:: Reunion
local long form:: none
local short form:: Ile de la Reunion

National holiday

National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch

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

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council

General Council

elections last held March 1994 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (47 total) PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7

Regional Council

elections last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (45 total) UPF 17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6

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

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain DEFAUD;
Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD;
Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU;;
France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON;
Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU;
Social Democrats (CDS), leader NA;
Union for France (UPF - including RPR and UDF);
Free-Dom Movement, Marguerite SUDRE

Diplomatic representation in US

none (overseas department of France)

Economy

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.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$3,900

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

35%

(February 1991)

Budget

Revenues

$358 millionExpenditures

$914 million (1986 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 180,000 kW

Electricity production

1 billionElectricity consumption per capita

1,454 (1993)

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.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

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

External debt

$NA

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

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all

2,438 to 3,047 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

2,800Railroads

Highways: paved: 2,200 km · unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km

Highways

total:: 2,800 km
paved:: 2,200 km
unpaved:: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km

Ports

Le Port, Pointe des Galets

Merchant marine

none

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

85,900 telephones;
adequate system;
principal center Saint-Denis

local:: NA
intercity:: modern open-wire and microwave network
international:: radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
new microwave route to Mauritius;
1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station