Statistical information Guadeloupe 1996

Guadeloupe in the World

Guadeloupe - Introduction 1996

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Background: 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).

Guadeloupe - Geography 1996

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Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 1,780 km²
Land: 1,706 km²
Comparative: 10 times the size of Washington, DC
Comparative note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, of which Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, and Marie-Galante are the three largest

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 306 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive 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; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m

Natural resources:

Cultivable land
Beaches and climate that foster tourism

Land use

Land use
Arable land: 18%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 13%
Forests and woodland: 40%
Other: 24%

Irrigated land: 30 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography

Guadeloupe - People 1996

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Population:

407,768 (July 1996 est.)
402,815 (July 1995 est.)

Growth rate:

1.2% (1996 est.)
1.24% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guadeloupian(s)
Adjective: Guadeloupe

Ethnic groups:

Black or mulatto 90%
White 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

Age structure
0-14 years:

26% (male 53,118; female 51,219) (July 1996 est.)
26% (male 52,922; female 51,069) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 years:

66% (male 132,846; female 136,147) (July 1996 est.)
66% (male 130,875; female 134,328) (July 1995 est.)

65 years and over:

8% (male 14,617; female 19,821) (July 1996 est.)
8% (male 14,303; female 19,318) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

1.2% (1996 est.)
1.24% (1995 est.)

Birth rate:

17.78 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
18.15 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate:

5.59 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
5.58 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.16 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
-0.16 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano
International agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
All ages:

0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:8.3 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
8.5 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.4 years (1996 est.); 77.2 years (1995 est.)
Male: 74.37 years (1996 est.); 74.16 years (1995 est.)
Female: 80.58 years (1996 est.); 80.38 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.92 children born/woman (1996 est.)
1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1982)
Total population: 90%
Male: 90%
Female: 90%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Guadeloupe - Government 1996

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Country name
Conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
Conventional short form: Guadeloupe
Local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
Local short form: Guadeloupe

Government type: Overseas department of France

Capital: Basse-Terre

Administrative divisions: None (overseas department of France)

Dependent areas

Independence: None (overseas department of France)

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

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Michel DIEFENBACHER (since NA March 1995), who was appointed by the French Ministry of Interior
Head of government: President of the General Council Dominique LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: Unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council General Council:Elections last held NA March 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(43 total) FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1, independent 1 Regional Council:Elections last held on 31 January 1993 (next to be held by 16 March 1998; results_RPR/DUD 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats_(41 total) seats by party NA French Senate:Elections last held in September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004; Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(2 total) PPDG 1, FGPS 1 French National Assembly:Elections last held on 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held March 1998; Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(4 total) FGPS 1, RPR 1, PPDG 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation

Flag description

: Three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage

Guadeloupe - Economy 1996

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Economy overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. 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 parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Cash crops_bananas, sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock_cattle, pigs, goats; not self-sufficient in food

Industries:

Construction
Cement
Rum
Sugar
Tourism

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: 129,700
By occupation Services: 65%
By occupation Industry: 20%
By occupation Agriculture: 15% (1993)

Labor force

Unemployment rate:

31.3% (1995)
31.3% (1990)