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

Geographic coordinates: 14 40 N 61 00 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Comparative: slightly more than six times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 350 km

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid

Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches cultivable land

Irrigated land: 40 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes flooding and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)

Population: 414,516 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 0.96% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

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%

Population growth rate: 0.96% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 16.1 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA

Infant mortality rate: 7.97 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Government type: NA

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

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Combat Worker [Gerard BEAUJOUR]; Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Armand NICOLAS]; Martinique Forces [Maurice LAOUCHEZ]; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique Patriots or PM [leader NA]; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Camille DARSIERES]; Martinique Socialist Party or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement for a Liberated Martinique [Philippe PETIT]; National Council of Popular Committees [Robert SAE]; Rally for Democratic Martinique [Felix HILAIRE-FORTUNE]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Republican Party or PR [Jean BAILLY]; Socialist Federation of Martinique or FSM [Jean CRUSOL]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]; Union for the Renewal of Ste. Marie [Guy LORDINOT]

International organization participation: FZ WCL WFTU

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

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.

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,700 (1996 est.)

Agriculture products: pineapples avocados bananas flowers vegetables sugarcane

Industries: construction rum cement oil refining sugar tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 170,000 (1997)
By occupation agriculture: 10%
By occupation industry: 17%
By occupation services: 73% (1997)

Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.9% (1990)

Exports: $250 million (f.o.b. 1997)
Commodities: refined petroleum products bananas rum pineapples
Partners: France 45% Guadeloupe 28% (1997)

Imports: $2 billion (c.i.f. 1997)
Commodities: petroleum products crude oil foodstuffs construction materials vehicles clothing and other consumer goods
Partners: France 62% Venezuela 6% Germany 4% Italy 4% US 3% (1997)

Debt external: $180 million (1994)

Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000) 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999) 5.8995 (1998) 5.8367 (1997) 5.1155 (1996) 4.9915 (1995)

Electricity
Production: 1.075 billion kWh (1998)
Consumption: 1 billion kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 155,000 (1994)
Mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequate

Internet
Service providers isps: NA

Airports: 2 (1999 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe