Reunion
Department of Reunion
overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)
Reunion as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 fields, one of 17 editions from 1990 to 2006.
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Geography
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of | Madagascar
14 fieldsLand useshare of 2,510 sq km
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
- lowest point:
- Indian Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
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 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 32% (male 112,413; female 107,187)
- 15-64 years:
- 62% (male 207,386; female 214,308)
- 65 years and over:
- 6% (male 15,610; female 22,294) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.7 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Overseas department of France; President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) represented by Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ (since NA) who was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior; President of the General Council Christophe PAYET (since NA)
22 fieldsLegislature, 47 seatsone dot, one seat
Legislature, 45 seatsone dot, one seat
Name of country
- conventional long form:
- Department of Reunion
- conventional short form:
- Reunion
- local long form:
- none
- local short form:
- Ile de la Reunion
Administrative divisions
overseas department of France; there are no first-order divisions as defined by the US Government but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) represented by Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ (since NA) who was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
- head of government:
- President of the General Council Christophe PAYET (since NA)
General Council
- elections last held NA 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 - includes RPR and UDF);
- Free-Dom Movement, Marguerite SUDRE
Economy
The economy has traditionally been based on | agriculture.
20 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 180,000 kW
Economic 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 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.
Exports
$174 million (f.o.b., 1993)
- commodities:
- sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993)
- partners:
- France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar
Imports
$2.08 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
- commodities:
- manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
- partners:
- France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all
Networkskm
Communications
French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
9 fieldsTelephone system
adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis
- domestic:
- modern open wire and microwave radio relay network
- international:
- radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
- new microwave route to Mauritius;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Manpower availability
- males age 15-49:
- 176,609
- males fit for military service:
- 90,784
- males reach military age (18) annually:
- 5,728 (1996 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Reunion.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/reunion/1996.