1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity
Coastline
306 km
Comparative area
10 times the size of Washington, DC
Continental shelf
200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
Disputes
none
Environment
subject to hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
1,760 km2
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 18%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures 13%; forest and woodland 40%; other 24%; includes irrigated 1%
Natural resources
cultivable land, beaches, and climate that foster tourism
Note
located 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea
Terrain
Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
1,780 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
19 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
black or mulatto 90%; white 5%; East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Infant mortality rate
10 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
120,000; 53.0% services, government, and commerce, 25.8% industry, 21.2% agriculture
Languages
French, creole patois
Life expectancy at birth
74 years male, 80 years female (1992)
Literacy
90% (male 90%, female 91%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
Nationality
noun - Guadeloupian(s); adjective - Guadeloupe
Net migration rate
8 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
11% of labor force
Population
409,132 (July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Total fertility rate
2.0 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas department of France)
Capital
Basse-Terre
Chief of State
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Communists
3,000 est.
Constitution
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Diplomatic representation
as an overseas department of France, the interests of Guadeloupe are represented in the US by France
Executive branch
government commissioner
Flag
the flag of France is used
French National Assembly
last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) PS 2 seats, RPR 1 seat, PCG 1 seat
French Senate
last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PCG 1, PS 1
General Council
last held NA 1986 (next to be held by NA 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) number of seats by party NA
Head of Government
Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Paul PROUST (since November 1989)
Independence
none (overseas department of France)
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Legal system
French legal system
Legislative branch
unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
Long-form name
Department of Guadeloupe
Member of
FZ, WCL
National holiday
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Other political or pressure groups
Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Popular Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)
Political parties and leaders
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Marlene CAPTANT; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (PSG), Dominique LARIFLA; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Independent Republicans; Union for French Democracy (UDF); Union for a New Majority (UNM)
Regional Council
last held on 16 March 1992 (next to be held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR 33.1%, PSG 28.7%, PCG 23.8%, UDF 10.7%, other 3.7%; seats - (41 total) RPR 15, PSG 12, PCG 10, UDF 4
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
overseas department of France
Economy
Agriculture
cash crops - bananas and sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, and goats; not self-sufficient in food
Budget
revenues $254 million; expenditures $254 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1989)
Currency
French franc (plural - francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.235 billion
Electricity
171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced, 1,279 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.6397 (March 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)
Exports
$153 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: bananas, sugar, rum partners: France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, per capita $3,300; real growth rate NA% (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)
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (1988)
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.
Unemployment rate
38% (1987)
Communications
Airports
9 total, 9 usable, 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
2 major transport aircraft
Highways
1,940 km total; 1,600 km paved, 340 km gravel and earth
Ports
Pointe-a-Pitre, Basse-Terre
Railroads
privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Telecommunications
domestic facilities inadequate; 57,300 telephones; interisland radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to broadcast FM), 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station
Military and Security
Branches
French Forces, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability
males 15-49, 98,069; NA fit for military service
Note
defense is responsibility of France