ARCHIVE // GP // 1992
Guadeloupe
1992 Edition — territory
Communications
Airports
[time series]
9 total, 9 usable, 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
[time series]
2 major transport aircraft
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
1,940 km total; 1,600 km paved, 340 km gravel and earth
Ports
[time series]
Pointe-a-Pitre, Basse-Terre
Railways
(Railroads)
[time series]
privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Telecommunication systems
(Telecommunications)
[time series]
domestic facilities inadequate; 57,300 telephones; interisland radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to broadcast FM), 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station
Defense Forces
Military and security forces
(Branches)
[time series]
French Forces, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability
[time series]
males 15-49, 98,069; NA fit for military service
Note
[time series]
defense is responsibility of France
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture)
[time series]
cash crops - bananas and sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, and goats; not self-sufficient in food
Budget
[time series]
revenues $254 million; expenditures $254 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1989)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
French franc (plural - francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
[time series]
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.235 billion
Electricity
[time series]
171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced, 1,279 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
[time series]
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.6397 (March 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)
Exports
[time series]
$153 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: bananas, sugar, rum partners: France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)
Debt - external
(External debt)
[time series]
$NA
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, per capita $3,300; real growth rate NA% (1987)
Imports
[time series]
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum products partners: France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)
Industrial production growth rate
(Industrial production)
[time series]
growth rate NA%
Industries
[time series]
construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.3% (1988)
Economic overview
(Overview)
[time series]
The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
Unemployment rate
[time series]
38% (1987)
Geography
Climate
[time series]
subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity
Coastline
[time series]
306 km
Area - comparative
(Comparative area)
[time series]
10 times the size of Washington, DC
Disputes - international
(Disputes)
[time series]
none
Environment - current issues
(Environment)
[time series]
subject to hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano
Area
(Land area)
[time series]
1,760 km2
Land boundaries
[time series]
none
Land use
[time series]
arable land 18%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures 13%; forest and woodland 40%; other 24%; includes irrigated 1%
Maritime claims
[time series]
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
[time series]
cultivable land, beaches, and climate that foster tourism
Note
[time series]
located 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea
Terrain
[time series]
Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation
Area
(Total area)
[time series]
1,780 km2
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
none (overseas department of France)
Capital
[time series]
Basse-Terre
Political parties
(Communists)
[time series]
3,000 est.
Constitution
[time series]
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Diplomatic representation in the US
(Diplomatic representation)
[time series]
as an overseas department of France, the interests of Guadeloupe are represented in the US by France
Executive branch
(Elections)
[time series]
French National Assembly: last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) PS 2 seats, RPR 1 seat, PCG 1 seat French Senate: last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PCG 1, PS 1 General Council: last held NA 1986 (next to be held by NA 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) number of seats by party NA Regional Council: last held on 16 March 1992 (next to be held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR 33.1%, PSG 28.7%, PCG 23.8%, UDF 10.7%, other 3.7%; seats - (41 total) RPR 15, PSG 12, PCG 10, UDF 4
Executive branch
[time series]
government commissioner
Flag
[time series]
the flag of France is used
Independence
[time series]
none (overseas department of France)
Judicial branch
[time series]
Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Executive branch
(Leaders)
[time series]
Chief of State: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) Head of Government: Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Paul PROUST (since November 1989)
Legal system
[time series]
French legal system
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
Country name
(Long-form name)
[time series]
Department of Guadeloupe
International organization participation
(Member of)
[time series]
FZ, WCL
National holiday
[time series]
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties
(Other political or pressure groups)
[time series]
Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Popular Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Marlene CAPTANT; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (PSG), Dominique LARIFLA; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Independent Republicans; Union for French Democracy (UDF); Union for a New Majority (UNM)
Suffrage
[time series]
universal at age 18
Government type
(Type)
[time series]
overseas department of France
People
Birth rate
[time series]
19 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
[time series]
6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic groups
(Ethnic divisions)
[time series]
black or mulatto 90%; white 5%; East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
10 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
[time series]
120,000; 53.0% services, government, and commerce, 25.8% industry, 21.2% agriculture
Languages
[time series]
French, creole patois
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
74 years male, 80 years female (1992)
Literacy
[time series]
90% (male 90%, female 91%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
Nationality
[time series]
noun - Guadeloupian(s); adjective - Guadeloupe
Net migration rate
[time series]
8 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
[time series]
11% of labor force
Population
[time series]
409,132 (July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2.0 children born/woman (1992)