1982 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1982 (Wikisource)
Geography
Area
2,512 km2; two-thirds of island extremely rugged, consisting of volcanic mountains; 48,600 hectares (less than one-fifth of the land) under cultivation WATER
Coastline
201 km
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
12 nm
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
most of the population is of thoroughly intermixed ancestry of French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian origin
Labor force
primarily agricultural workers; high seasonal unemployment
Language
French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy
over 80% among younger generation
Nationality
noun—Reunionese (sing. and pl.); adjective—Reunionese
Population
521,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.4%
Religion
94% Roman Catholic
Government
Branches
Reunion is administered by a Prefect appointed by the French Minister of Interior, assisted by a Secretary General and an elected 36-man General Council Government leader: Prefect Michel LEVALLOIS
Capital
Saint-Denis
Communists
Communist Party small, but has support among sugarcane cutters, the minuscule OCMLR, and in Le Port District
Elections
last municipal and general council elections in 1976; parliamentary election June 1981 Political parties and leaders: Reunion Communist Party (RCP) led by Paul Verges and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Reunion led by Georges Sinamale; other political candidates affiliated with metropolitan French parties, which do not maintain permanent organizations on Reunion Voting strength (Parliamentary election 1981): the French Democratic Union-Rally for the Republic coalition elected two deputies; the Socialists elected one deputy
Legal system
French law
Member of
EC, WFTU
Official name
Department of Reunion
Suffrage
universal adult
Type
overseas department of France; represented in French Parliament by three deputies and two senators
Economy
Agriculture
cash crops—almost entirely sugarcane, small amounts of vanilla and perfume plants; food crops—tropical fruit and vegetables, manioc, bananas, corn, market garden produce, also some tea, tobacco, and coffee; food crop inadequate, most food needs imported
Aid
economic commitments—Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (1970-78), $3,257 million
Electric power
105,000 kW capacity (1980); 285 million kWh produced (1980), 577 kWh per capita
Exports
$62 million (f.o.b., 1975); 90% sugar, 4% perfume essences, 5% rum and molasses, 1% vanilla and tea (1974)
Fiscal year
probably calendar year
Imports
$410 million (c.i.f., 1975); manufactured goods, food, beverages, and tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials and petroleum products
Major industries
12 sugar processing mills, rum distilling plants, cigarette factory, 2 tea plants, fruit juice plant, canning factory, a slaughterhouse, and several small shops producing handicraft items
Major trade partners
France (in 1970 supplied 62% of Reunion's imports, purchased 76% of its exports); Mauritius (supplied 12% of imports)
Monetary conversion rate
4.705 French francs=US$1
Communications
Airfields
6 total, 6 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
1 major transport aircraft, leased in
Highways
1,983 km total; 1,683 km paved, 300 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized earth
Ports
1 major (Port des Galets)
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
adequate system for needs; fairly modern open-wire lines and radiocommunication stations; principal center Saint-Denis; radiocommunication to Comoros Islands, France, Madagascar, and Mauritius; 36,000 telephones (7.2 per 100 popl.); 2 AM and 8 FM stations; 1 TV station with 13 relay transmitters; 1 Indian Ocean satellite station
Military and Security
Military manpower
males 15-49, 144,000; 77,000 fit for military service; 7,000 reach military age (18) annually