ARCHIVE // GP // 2001

Guadeloupe

2001 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
3 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.gp
Internet users [time series]
4,000 (2000)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios [time series]
113,000 (1997)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: 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 - main lines in use) [time series]
171,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
NA
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions [time series]
118,000 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Budget [time series]
revenues: $225 million expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
French franc (FRF); euro (EUR)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
FRF; EUR
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditional 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, mainly from France. Light industry features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
1.209 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production [time series]
1.3 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Exchange rates [time series]
Euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996)
Exports [time series]
$140 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities [time series]
bananas, sugar, rum
Exports - partners [time series]
France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1997)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 15% industry: 17% services: 68% (1997 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1997 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners [time series]
France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%, Netherlands Antilles 2% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA
Labor force [time series]
125,900 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
27.8% (1998)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 1,780 sq km land: 1,706 sq km water: 74 sq km note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin
Area - comparative [time series]
10 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Coastline [time series]
306 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
16 15 N, 61 35 W
Irrigated land [time series]
30 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 10.2 km border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 14% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 39% other: 29% (1993 est.)
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 hazards [time series]
hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere is an active volcano
Natural resources [time series]
cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Terrain [time series]
Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (overseas department of France)
Capital [time series]
Basse-Terre
Constitution [time series]
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe
Dependency status [time series]
overseas department of France
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (overseas department of France)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA 1996) head of government: President of the General Council Marcellin LUBETH (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils election results: NA
Flag (Flag description) [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 gold five-pointed star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (overseas department of France)
International organization participation [time series]
FZ, WCL, WFTU
Judicial branch [time series]
Court of Appeal or 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 or Conseil General (42 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council - last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - diverse left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, diverse right parties 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, diverse right parties 5.73%; seats by party - RPR 25, PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 12, PCG 2, diverse right parties 2 note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, FGPS 1; Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FGPS 2, RPR 1, PPDG 1
National holiday [time series]
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Christian CELESTE]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Aldo BLAISE]; Socialist Party or PS [Georges LOUISOR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Marcel ESDRAS]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint-Martin is divided with the Netherlands (whose southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles).
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of France
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
French Forces, Gendarmerie
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 24.99% (male 55,030; female 52,722) 15-64 years: 66.22% (male 141,294; female 144,232) 65 years and over: 8.79% (male 15,901; female 21,991) (2001 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
16.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
9.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Languages [time series]
French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 77.16 years male: 74.01 years female: 80.48 years (2001 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90% male: 90% female: 90% (1982 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Guadeloupian(s) adjective: Guadeloupe
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Population [time series]
431,170 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.07% (2001 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 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: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.93 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
9 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 2,560 km paved: 965 km unpaved: 1,595 km (1996)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,240 GRT/109 DWT ships by type: passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy), Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Railways [time series]
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Waterways [time series]
none