Background: Colonized by France in 1635 the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.

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:

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

Irrigated land: 60 km² (1989 est.)

Population:
Growth rate:

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

Ethnic groups:

Languages: French, Creole patois

Religions:

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

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

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:

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:

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
Total population: 93%
Male: 92%
Female: 93%

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)

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 (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

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

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

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 growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita:

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:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: 121,600
By occupation Services: 73%
By occupation Agriculture: 10%
By occupation Industry: 17% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 32.1% (1990)

Budget
Revenues: $657 million (1992), $610 million (1991)
Expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.), $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1991)

Fiscal year: Calendar year

Exports:
Commodities:
Partners:

Debt external: $180 million (1994)

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1_5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)

Electricity
Capacity: 113,100 kW
Production: 700 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 1,677 kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 159,000 telephones (1990 est.); domestic facilities are adequate
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: interisland microwave radio relay links to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Airports: 2
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1

Merchant marine: None

Illicit drugs: Transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the U.S. and Europe