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 area total: 1,780 km²
Land: 1,760 km²

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

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.)

Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes (June to October; La Soufriere is an active volcano

Geography
Note: defense is responsibility of France

Population: 428,947 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 1.55% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Guadeloupian(s)

Languages: French, creole patois

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

Population growth rate: 1.55% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 17.68 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.73 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA
International agreements: NA

Infant mortality rate: 8.9 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.97 years
Male: 73.91 years
Female: 80.14 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1994 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:

Government type: overseas department of France

Capital: Basse-Terre

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

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
Chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of government: Prefect Franck PERRIEZ (since NA 1992); President of the General Council Dominique LARIFA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)

Legislative branch: French Forces, Gendarmerie
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 1986 (next to be held September 1995); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PCG 1, PS 1
French National Assembly: elections last held on 21 and 28 March1993 (next to be held March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) PS 1, RPR 1, PCG 1, independent 1

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

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

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: $8,400 (1991)

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: 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

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

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

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)

Electricity
Capacity: 171,500 kW
Production: 441 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 1,080 kWh (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