Reunion

Reunion

Overseas department of France

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

201 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

None

Climate

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

Terrain

Mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

60 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

PEOPLE

Population

679,198 (July 1996 est.)
666,067 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

32% (male 112,413; female 107,187) (July 1996 est.)
32% (male 109,972; female 104,924) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

62% (male 207,386; female 214,308) (July 1996 est.)
62% (male 203,774; female 210,762) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

6% (male 15,610; female 22,294) (July 1996 est.)
6% (male 15,029; female 21,606) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.93% (1996 est.)
1.98% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

24.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
24.59 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

4.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
4.79 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

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
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

2.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.75 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

French (official), Creole widely used

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1982)

Labor Force

242,169 (1993)

By occupation:

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

RE

Type

Overseas department of France

Capital

Saint-Denis

Administrative Divisions

overseas department of France; there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons

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 law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council

General Council

Elections last held 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

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

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

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

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)

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

Member of

FZ, IOC, WFTU

Flag

The flag of France is used

ECONOMY

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.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1995 est.), $2.5 billion (1993 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

2.7% (1995 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$4,300 (1995 est.)
$3,900 (1993 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

NA

Unemployment Rate

35% (February 1991)

Budget

Exports

$174 million (f.o.b., 1993)
$166 million (f.o.b., 1988)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$2.08 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

NA

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA; about 25% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for 30% of labor force; dominant sector of economy; cash crops - sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco; food crops - tropical fruits, vegetables, corn; imports large share of food needs

Economic Aid

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

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), 5.4453 (1990)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Ports

Le Port, Pointe des Galets

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

191,647 telephones (1993 est.); adequate system; principal center Saint-Denis

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

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

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.)

Note: Defense is the responsibility of France

History
World Atlas

last updated: 28 november 1997