*Martinique, Header
Affiliation: (overseas department of France)
*Martinique, Geography
Location:
in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
total area:
1,100 km2
land area:
1,060 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
290 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:
mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Natural resources:
coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use:
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
8%
meadows and pastures:
30%
forest and woodland:
26%
other:
26%
Irrigated land:
60 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity that result in an
average of one major natural disaster every five years
*Martinique, People
Population:
387,656 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.21% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
18.07 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.82 years
male:
74.68 years
female:
81.01 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective:
Martiniquais
Ethnic divisions:
African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture 90%, Caucasian 5%, East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages:
French, Creole patois
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population:
93%
male:
92%
female:
93%
Labor force:
100,000
by occupation:
service industry 31.7%, construction and public works 29.4%, agriculture
13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%, other 16.3%
*Martinique, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Department of Martinique
conventional short form:
Martinique
local long form:
Departement de la Martinique
local short form:
Martinique
Digraph:
MB
Type:
overseas department of France
Capital:
Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP);
Martinique Progressive Party (PPM); Socialist Federation of Martinique
(FSM); Martinique Communist Party (PCM); Martinique Patriots (PM); Union for
French Democracy (UDF)
Other political or pressure groups:
Proletarian Action Group (GAP); Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution
Group (GRS); Martinique Independence Movement (MIM); Caribbean Revolutionary
Alliance (ARC); Central Union for Martinique Workers (CSTM), Marc PULVAR;
Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1
French National Assembly:
last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) PPM 1, FSM 1, RPR 1, UDF 1
General Council:
last held in 25 September and 8 October 1988 (next to be held by NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total) number of seats by
party NA; note - a leftist coalition obtained a one-seat margin
Regional Assembly:
last held on NA March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (41 total) UMP 16
Executive branch:
government commissioner
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
*Martinique, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:
Government Commissioner Jean Claude ROURE (since 5 May 1989); President of
the General Council Emile MAURICE (since NA 1988)
Member of:
FZ, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
as an overseas department of France, Martiniquais interests are represented
in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Consul General Raymond G. ROBINSON
embassy:
Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France
mailing address:
B. P. 561, Fort-de-France 97206
telephone: [596] 63-13-03
Flag:
the flag of France is used