Map of Martinique | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | 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
Exclusive 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: arable land: 10%; permanent crops: 8%; meadows and pastures 30%; forest and woodland 26%; other 26%; includes irrigated 5%

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: 345,180 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

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

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

Languages: French, Creole patois

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 19 births/1000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1000 population (1991)

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: 10 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

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: 93% (male 92%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981; Head of Government--Government Commissioner Jean Claude ROURE (since 5 May 1989; President of the General Council Emile MAURICE (since NA 1988)

Legislative branch: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: as an overseas department of France, Martiniquais interests are represented in the US by France; US--Consul General Raymond G. ROBINSON; Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France (mailing address is B. P. 561, Fort-de-France 97,206; telephone [590] 63-13-03

Flag description: the flag of France is used Martinique MartiniqueMartinique

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 12% 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, 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 1986 per capita GDP was relatively high at $6,000. During 1986 the unemployment rate was 30% and was particularly severe among younger workers.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 12% of GDP; principal crops--pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, and sugarcane for rum; dependent on imported food, particularly meat and vegetables

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 100,000; service industry 31.7%, construction and public works 29.4%, agriculture 13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%, other 16.3%

Unemployment rate: 30% (1986)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $268 million; expenditures $268 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

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: $196 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Partners: France 65%, Guadeloupe 24%, FRG (1987)

Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Partners: France 65%, UK, Italy, FRG, Japan, US (1987)

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--5.1307 (January 1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)


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Electricity access

Electricity production

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

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: 2 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways less than 2,439 m

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs