Statistical information Martinique 1993
Martinique in the World
top of pageBackground: Colonized by France in 1635 the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.
top of pageLocation: in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 1,100 km²
Land: 1,060 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 290 km
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
ElevationNatural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land useArable land: 10%
Permanent crops: 8%
Meadows and pastures: 30%
Forest and woodland: 26%
Other: 26%
Irrigated land: 60 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 387,656 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 1.21% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
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 profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.21% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 18.07 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity that result in an average of one major natural disaster every five years
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 10.7 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.82 years
Female: 81.01 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
Total population: 93%
Male: 92%
Female: 93%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Department of Martinique
Conventional short form: Martinique
Local long form: Departement de la Martinique
Local short form: Martinique
Government type: overseas department of France
Capital: Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Federation of Martinique (FSM); Martinique Communist Party (PCM); Martinique
Patriots (PM); Union for French Democracy (UDF)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: government commissioner
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: FZ, WCL
Diplomatic representationIn the us:as an overseas department of France,
Martiniquais interests are represented in the US by France
From the us chief of mission: Consul General Raymond G. ROBINSON
From the us embassy: Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France
From the us mailing address: B. P. 561, Fort-de-France 97,206
From the us telephone: 596 63-13-03
Flag description: the flag of France is used 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. Banana workers launched protests late in 1992 because of falling banana prices and fears of greater competition in the European market from other producers.
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overviewReal gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products:
including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 12% of
GDP; principal crops - pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane for rum; dependent on imported food, particularly meat and vegetables
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA%
Labor force: 100,000
By occupation serviceindustry: 31.7%
By occupation constructionandpublicworks: 29.4%
By occupation agriculture: 13.1%
By occupation industry: 7.3%
By occupation fisheries: 2.2%
By occupation other: 16.3%
Unemployment rate: 32.1% (1990)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $268 million; expenditures $268 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal yearCurrent 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: $196 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodoties: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Partners: France 65%, Guadeloupe 24%, Germany (1987)
Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodoties: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Partners: France 65%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1987)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 113,100 kW capacity; 588 million kWh produced, 1,580 kWh per capita (1992)
Electricity 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: 2
Usable: 2
With permanentsurface runways: 1
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 0
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs