1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Labor force
primarily agricultural workers; high seasonal unemployment
Language
French (official); Creole widely used
Literacy
over 80% among younger generation
Religion
94% Roman Catholic
Total area
15 km Indian Ocean Saint-Paul i. Saint-Bancit ,paint-Louls Saint-Jozeph
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; in 1974 France created an elected 45member Regional Assembly to coordinate economic and social development policies; in 1981 both the General Council and the Regional Assembly received greater authority for fiscal policy
Capital
Saint-Denis
Communists
Communist Party small but has support among sugarcane cutters and the minuscule Popular Movement for the Liberation of Reunion (MPLR) and in Le Port District
Elections
last municipal and General Council elections in 1983; parliamentary election June 1981; Regional Assembly election February 1983 Political parties and leaders: Reunion Communist Party (RCP), Paul Verges; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Reunion, Georges Sinamale; other political candidates affiliated with metropolitan French parties, which do not maintain permanent organizations on Reunion
Government leader
Jean Anciaux, Commissioner of the Republic
Legal system
French law
Member of
WFTU
Official name
Department of Reunion
Suffrage
universal adult
Type
overseas department of France; represented in French Parliament by three deputies and two senators
Voting strength
(parliamentary election 1981) Union for French Democracy— Rally for the Republic coalition elected two deputies; the Socialists elected one; in the 1983 Regional Assembly election, leftist parties received 45.7% of the vote
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, some tea, tobacco, and coffee; food crop inadequate, most food needs imported
Electric power
180,000 kW capacity; 394 million kWh produced, 730 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$128 million (f.0.b., 1980); 90% sugar, 5% rum and molasses, 4% perfume essences, 1% vanilla and tea
Imports
$871 million (c.i.f., 1980); manufactured goods, food, beverages, 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 and