Statistical information Guadeloupe 1989
Guadeloupe in the World
top of pageBackground: Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint-Martin is divided with the Netherlands (whose southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles).
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation
ElevationNatural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use: 18% arable land; 5% permanent crops; 13% meadows and pastures; 40% forest and woodland; 24% other; includes 1% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is responsibility of France
top of pagePopulation: 341,430 (July 1989), growth rate 0.8% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Guadeloupian(s; adjective - Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups: 90% black or mulatto; 5% white; less than 5% East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese
Languages: French, creole patois
Religions: 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Hindu and pagan African
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 21 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes (June to October; La Soufriere is an active volcano
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 13 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 77 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: over 70%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
Government type: overseas department of France
Capital: Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Dependent areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State - President Francois Maurice MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981; Head of Government - Commissioner of the Republic Bernard SARAZIN (since NA 1987)
Legislative branch: executive - prefect appointed by Paris; legislative - popularly elected General Council of 36 members and a Regional Council composed of members of the local General Council and the locally elected deputies and senators to the French parliament; judicial - under jurisdiction of French judicial system
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: WFTU
Diplomatic representationIn the us: as an overseas department of France, Guadeloupe interests are represented in the US by France
Flag description: the flag of France is used
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and income and social transfers. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, though Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, vegetables
Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force:
120,000; 53.0%
services, government, and commerce, 25.8%
industry, 21.2% agriculture
Unemployment rate: 25% (1983)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $380.5 million; expenditures NA, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1985)
Commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
Partners: France 72%, Martinique 16% (1984)
Imports: $647 million (c.i.f., 1985)
Commodities: vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum products
Partners: France 59%, (1984)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 6.2503 (January 1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity productionElectricity consumptionElectricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 9 total, 9 usable, 8 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs