Statistical information Guadeloupe 1990

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: 342,175 (July 1990), growth rate 0.8% (1990)
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: 20 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1000 population (1990)
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: 17 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 77 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1990)
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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981; Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Paul PROUST (since November 1989)
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: WFTU
Diplomatic representationIn the us: as an overseas department of France, the interests of Guadeloupe 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, although 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 capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: cash crops--bananas and sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock--cattle, pigs, and goats; not self-sufficient in food
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 $251 million; expenditures $251 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation 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: $109 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
Partners: France 72%, Martinique 16% (1984)
Imports: $792 million (c.i.f., 1986)
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--5.7598 (January 1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 103,000 kW capacity; 315 million kWh produced, 920 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband 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; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs