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).

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 1,780 km²
Land: 1,760 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 306 km
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity

Terrain:

Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism

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

Irrigated land: 30 km² (1989 est.)

Population: 422,114 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 1.67% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guadeloupian(s)
Adjective: Guadeloupe

Ethnic groups:

Languages: French, creole patois

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

Population growth rate: 1.67% (1993 est.)

Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.42 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Environment
Current issues: subject to hurricanes (June to October; La Soufriere is an active volcano

Infant mortality rate: 9.2 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.72 years
Male: 73.67 years
Female: 79.9 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
Total population: 90%
Male: 90%
Female: 91%

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

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: government commissioner

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

International organization participation: FZ, WCL

Diplomatic representation
In the us: as an overseas department of France, the
From the us: none (overseas department of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

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 growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $4,700 (1989)

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: 120,000
By occupation services government and commerce: 53.0%
By occupation industry: 25.8%
By occupation agriculture: 21.2%

Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1990)

Budget: revenues $333 million; expenditures $671 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $168 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodoties: bananas, sugar, rum
Partners: France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodoties: vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum products
Partners: France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)

Exchange 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)

Electricity
Production: 171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced, 1,080 kWh per capita (1992)

Airports: 9
Usable: 9
With permanentsurface runways: 8
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 1

Disputes international: none