1996 Edition

Description

the flag of France is used

Location

21 06 S, 55 36 E -- Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

land area

2,500 sq km

total area

2,510 sq km

Climate

tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Coastline

201 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano

Geographic coordinates

21 06 S, 55 36 E

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

60 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

16%

forest and woodland

35%

meadows and pastures

5%

other

41% (1993)

permanent crops

3%

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Map references

World

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

highest point

Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 32% (male 112,413; female 107,187) 15-64 years: 62% (male 207,386; female 214,308) 65 years and over: 6% (male 15,610; female 22,294) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

24.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

4.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian

Infant mortality rate

7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

French (official), Creole widely used

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.98 years (1996 est.)

male

71.71 years

total population

74.77 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)

female

80%

male

76%

total population

79%

Nationality

adjective

Reunionese

noun

Reunionese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

679,198 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.93% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 94%, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist

Sex ratio

all ages

0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

overseas department of France; there are no first-order divisions as defined by the US Government but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons

Capital

Saint-Denis

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Data code

RE

Diplomatic representation in US

none (overseas department of France)

Executive branch

chief of state

President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) represented by Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ (since NA) who was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior

head of government

President of the General Council Christophe PAYET (since NA)

Flag

the flag of France is used

French National Assembly

elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1

French Senate

elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total) RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1

General Council

elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7

Independence

none (overseas department of France)

International organization participation

FZ, IOC, WFTU

Judicial branch

Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)

Legal system

French law

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council

Name of country

conventional long form

Department of Reunion

conventional short form

Reunion

local long form

none

local short form

Ile de la Reunion

National holiday

National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain DEFAUD; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU; France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU; Social Democrats (CDS), leader NA; Union for France (UPF - includes RPR and UDF); Free-Dom Movement, Marguerite SUDRE

Regional Council

elections last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) UPF 17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

overseas department of France

US diplomatic representation

none (overseas department of France)

Agriculture

sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn

Budget

expenditures

$NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient

substantial annual subsidies from France

Economic overview

The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.

Electricity

capacity

180,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,454 kWh (1993)

production

1 billion kWh

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)

Exports

$174 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993)

partners

France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$4,300 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.7% (1995 est.)

Imports

$2.08 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities

manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products

partners

France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

242,169 (1993)

by occupation

agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)

Unemployment rate

35% (February 1991)

Branches

French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of France

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

176,609

males fit for military service

90,784

males reach military age (18) annually

5,728 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 13, shortwave 0

Radios

151,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis

domestic

modern open wire and microwave radio relay network

international

radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones

191,647 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (repeaters 18)

Televisions

116,181 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

2

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

2,187 km

total

2,784 km

unpaved

597 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Le Port, Pointe des Galets

Railways

0 km