Figures facts & information on Martinique

General information on Martinique & Overview

Martinique became a French colony in 1635, and has remained so ever since.

There were three brief periods of foreign occupation when control was wrested from France.

Geographical Statistics & Information on Martinique

Geographical Position: Caribbean Sea

Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 14 degrees 50’ North, 60 degrees 00’ West

Total Land & Sea Area Total: 1,050 square kilometres Sea Area 50 square kilometres land area: 1,000 square kilometres Land boundaries: 0 kilometres Coastal Length: 350 kilometres

Climatological Conditions & information on Martinique

Tropical, maritime climate in the Trade wind belt; during the rainy season from the month of June to the month of October warm and wet; Martinique is susceptible to vicious hurricanes every few years; average temperature 17 degrees C; humid

Terrain Features

Mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Caribbean Sea at sea level Highest elevation: Montagne Pelee 1,398 metres Country’s natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use

ploughable land area: 9 percent permanent crops: 11 percent other: 79 percent (1998 estimate) Irrigated land area: 35 square kilometres (1998 estimate)

Hazardous Natural phenomena: periodic destructive hurricanes, frequent flooding, and sporadic volcanic activity.

Geographical Point of Interest

Martinique is dominated by Mount Pelee, a volcanic peak which erupted on 8 May 1902 and totally wiped out Saint Pierre city, killing 50,000 people in its wake.

People-Information on Martinique

Population: 426,000 (July 2003 estimate)

Age structure: under 15 years: 23 percent 15 to 64 years: 67 percent Over 65: 10 percent Median age of population: Total: 32 years male: 31 years female: 33 years (2002) Population growth rate: 0.9 percent (2003 estimate) Birth rate: 15 births per thousand population (2003 estimate) mortality rate: 6 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate) Net rate of migration: -0.05 migrant(s) per thousand population (2003 estimate) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79. years male: 79.5 years female: 78.5 years (2003 estimate) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2003 estimate)

Nationality

Martiniquais

Ethnic groups

African and African-white-Indian mixture 85 percent, white 8 percent, East Indian, Chinese less than 7 percent

Religious information on Martinique

Roman Catholic 80 percent, Protestant 10 percent, Muslim/Islamic faith 5 percent, Hindu 1.5 percent, other 3.5 percent (1997)

Languages & Linguistic Groupings

French, Creole patois

Literacy: definition: People over the age of 15 years that are literate (can read & write): total population: 97.5 percent male: 97 percent female: 98 percent (2003 estimate)

Government information on Martinique

Country name: Department of Martinique

Dependency status: Overseas department of the Republic of France

Capital city: Fort-de-France Independence: none (overseas department of France) National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July Constitution: French Constitution 1958

Legal system: French legal system

Electoral & Voting System

Universal vote from the age of 18.

Executive branch: Head of State: President of France

Economy information on Martinique

The economy is based on primary industry and agriculture is the mainstay, the bulk of the sector being made up of sugarcane and banana growing.

The tourism sector is also strong and there is light industry.

Agriculture accounts for about 6 percent of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11 percent. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism, which employs more than 10,000 people, has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

$USD4 billion (2001 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - actual growth rate: NA percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - per head of population: $USD10,000 (2001 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 5 percent industry: 10 percent services: 85 percent (1997 estimate)

Rate of inflation: 4 percent (1990) Labour force: 166,000 (1998) Labour force - by occupation: agriculture 10 percent, industry 15 percent, services 75 percent (1997) Rate of unemployment: 27 percent (1998)

Budget

Incomes: $USD950 million spending : $USD2.5 billion,

Industries: construction industry, rum distilling, cement, oil refining, sugar processing, tourist industry

Agriculture - products: vegetables, pineapples, fruits, avocadoes, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane

Exports

$USD200 million . (1997) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples (2001 estimate) Exports - partners: France 50 percent, Guadeloupe 30 percent (2000)

Imports

$USD2 billion . (1997) Imports - commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, processed foods, building and construction materials, vehicles,cars, trucks, Imports -most important trading partners: France 60 percent, Venezuela 5 percent, Germany 5 percent, Italy 4 percent, United States 3 percent (2000)

Foreign Indebtedness

$USD200 million (1994) Economic aid - recipient: mainly from France

National Currency: euro (EUR) Currency Abbreviation: EUR

Communications information on Martinique

Telephones landlines: 180,000 (1997) Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 0, Frequency Modulation 15, shortwave 0 (1998) Television broadcast stations: 10 (1997) Internet country code: .mq

Transportation in & travel to Martinique

Railroad networks: 0 kilometres Roading System: Total: 2,000 kilometres Airports & airfields: 1 (2002)

Military system of Martinique

Military branches: no regular local military forces; French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie Military - note: Defence is the responsibility of France

International Issues Martinique Disputes - international: none

Now you’ve studied the information on Martinique – check out the historical facts of French speaking countries

More information on Martinique, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of Martinique | Map of Martinique | Learn French in Martinique |

Information on Martinique
Source: All info sourced and adapted from CIA Factbook
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