ARCHIVE // GP // 1996
Guadeloupe
1996 Edition — territory
Communications
Military and security forces
(Branches)
[time series]
French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military - note
(Defense note)
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of France
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed to broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
100,000 (1993 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
domestic facilities inadequate domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
64,916 (1984 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
9
Televisions
[time series]
150,000 (1993 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture)
[time series]
bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $395 million expenditures: $407 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
[time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA note: substantial annual French subsidies
Economic 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.
Electricity
[time series]
capacity: 320,000 kW production: 650 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
[time series]
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
[time series]
$130 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: bananas, sugar, rum partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)
Debt - external
(External debt)
[time series]
$NA
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 6% industry: 9% services: 85% (1993 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP per capita)
[time series]
$9,200 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP real growth rate)
[time series]
NA%
Imports
[time series]
$1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
3.7% (1990)
Labor force
[time series]
129,700 by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%, services 65% (1993)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
31.3% (1995)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total area: 1,780 sq km land area: 1,706 sq km comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, of which Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, and Marie-Galante are the three largest
Climate
[time series]
subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Coastline
[time series]
306 km
Environment - current issues
(Environment)
[time series]
current issues: NA natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
16 15 N, 61 35 W
Disputes - international
(International disputes)
[time series]
none
Irrigated land
[time series]
30 sq km (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 40% other: 24%
Location
[time series]
Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references
[time series]
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
[time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
[time series]
cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Terrain
[time series]
Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
none (overseas department of France)
Capital
[time series]
Basse-Terre
Constitution
[time series]
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Data code
[time series]
GP
Diplomatic representation in the US
(Diplomatic representation in US)
[time series]
none (overseas department of France)
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Michel DIEFENBACHER (since NA March 1995), who was appointed by the French Ministry of Interior head of government: President of the General Council Dominique LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
Flag
[time series]
three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Legislative branch
(French National Assembly)
[time series]
elections last held on 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) FGPS 1, RPR 1, PPDG 1, independent 1
Legislative branch
(French Senate)
[time series]
elections last held in September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PPDG 1, FGPS 1
Legislative branch
(General Council)
[time series]
elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (43 total) FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1, independent 1
Independence
[time series]
none (overseas department of France)
International organization participation
[time series]
FZ, WCL, WFTU
Judicial branch
[time series]
Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Legal system
[time series]
French legal system
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
Country name
(Name of country)
[time series]
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe
National holiday
[time series]
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties
(Other political or pressure groups)
[time series]
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), Daniel BEAUBRUN; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (FGPS), Georges LOUISOR; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), Claude MAKOUKE; FGPS Dissidents (FRUI.G), Dominique LARIFLA; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Marcel ESDRAS; Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri BANGOU
Legislative branch
(Regional Council)
[time series]
elections last held 31 January 1994 (next to be held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR/FGPS-dissadents 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats - (41 total) RPR/FGPS-dissadents 22, FGPS/FRUI.G 9, PPDG 5, PCG 3, UPLG 2
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type
(Type of government)
[time series]
overseas department of France
Diplomatic representation from the US
(US diplomatic representation)
[time series]
none (overseas department of France)
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 26% (male 53,118; female 51,219) 15-64 years: 66% (male 132,846; female 136,147) 65 years and over: 8% (male 14,617; female 19,821) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
17.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
5.59 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups
(Ethnic divisions)
[time series]
black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages
[time series]
French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 77.4 years male: 74.37 years female: 80.58 years (1996 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.) total population: 90% male: 90% female: 90%
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Guadeloupian(s) adjective: Guadeloupe
Net migration rate
[time series]
-0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population
[time series]
407,768 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
1.2% (1996 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant sects 1%
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.92 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
total: 9 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 2,082 km (national 329 km, regional 582 km, community/local 1171 km) paved: 1,742 km unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.)
Merchant marine
[time series]
none
Ports
[time series]
Basse-Terre, Gustavia, Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Railways
[time series]
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines