Map of Martinique | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Colonized by France in 1635 the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 290 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Elevation

Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use: 10% arable land; 8% permanent crops; 30% meadows and pastures; 26% forest and woodland; 26% other; includes 5% irrigated

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of France


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Population: 331,511 (July 1989), growth rate 0.4% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Martiniquais (sing. and pl.; adjective - Martiniquais

Ethnic groups: 90% African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture, 5% Caucasian, less than 5% East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese

Languages: French, Creole patois

Religions: 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Hindu and pagan African

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 18 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity that result in an average of one major natural disaster every five years

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 77 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: over 70%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: Department of Martinique

Government type: overseas department of France

Capital: Fort-de-France

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system; highest local court is a court of appeal based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal over age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State - President Francois Maurice MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981; Head of Government - Commissioner of the Republic Jean JOUANDET (since NA 1987)

Legislative branch: executive - prefect appointed by Paris; legislative - popularly elected General Council of 36 members and a Regional Council, including all members of the Council and the locally elected deputies and senators to the French parliament; judicial - under jurisdiction of French judicial system

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: WFTU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: as an overseas department of France, Martiniquais interests are represented in the US by France; US - Consul General Mary Dell PALAZZOLO; Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France (mailing address is B. P. 561, Fort-de-France; telephone Õ596å 63-13-03

Flag description: the flag of France is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 7% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 10%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, however, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration. In 1984 the annual per capita income was relatively high at $3,650. During 1985 the unemployment rate was between 25% and 30% and was particularly severe among younger workers.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: bananas, pineapples, vegetables, flowers, sugarcane for rum

Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 25-30% (1985)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues NA; expenditures $215 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1981)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $145 million (f.o.b., 1985)
Commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Partners: France 54%, Guadeloupe 36% (1984)

Imports: $683 million (c.i.f., 1985)
Commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Partners: France 54% (1984)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 6.2503 (January 1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)


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Electricity
Capacity: 108,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 1,000 kWh per capita (1988)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 3 total; 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs