Statistical information Martinique 1996

Martinique in the World

Martinique - Introduction 1996

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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.

Martinique - Geography 1996

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Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 1,100 km²
Land: 1,060 km²
Comparative: slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

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
Extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

Natural resources:

Coastal scenery and beaches
Cultivable land

Land use

Land use
Arable land: 10%
Permanent crops: 8%
Permanent pastures: 30%
Forests and woodland: 26%
Other: 26%

Irrigated land: 60 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography

Martinique - People 1996

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Population:

399,151 (July 1996 est.)
394,787 (July 1995 est.)

Growth rate:

1.1% (1996 est.)
1.1% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
Adjective: Martiniquais

Ethnic groups:

African and African-White-Indian mixture 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:

23% (male 46,851; female 45,300) (July 1996 est.)
23% (male 46,512; female 44,960) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 years:

67% (male 132,161; female 135,707) (July 1996 est.)
67% (male 130,642; female 134,439) (July 1995 est.)

65 years and over:

10% (male 16,542; female 22,590) (July 1996 est.)
10% (female 22,058; male 16,176) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

1.1% (1996 est.)
1.1% (1995 est.)

Birth rate:

16.92 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
16.92 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate:

5.85 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
5.82 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
-0.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)
International agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
All ages:

0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:7.1 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
7.3 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.81 years (1996 est.), 78.67 years (1995 est.)
Male: 76.07 years (1996 est.), 75.94 years (1995 est.)
Female: 81.68 years (1996 est.), 81.53 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
1.81 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 can read and write (1982)
Total population: 93%
Male: 92%
Female: 93%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Martinique - Government 1996

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Country name
Conventional 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 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); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
Head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992);

Legislative branch: Unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Assembly General Council:Elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(44 total) number of seats by party NA; note_the PPM won a plurality Regional Assembly:Elections last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(41 total) RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2 French Senate:Elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1 French National Assembly:Elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(4 total) RPR 2, UDF 1, PPM 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation

Flag description

: A light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage

Martinique - Economy 1996

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Economy overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. 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.

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: Including fishing and forestry, accounts 6% 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: 121,600
By occupation Services: 73%
By occupation Agriculture: 10%
By occupation Industry: 17% (1992)

Labor force