ARCHIVE // PF // 2003

Clipperton Island

2003 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2003 CSV Excel Print All Years
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 6 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 6 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October
Coastline [time series]
11.1 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
10 17 N, 109 13 W
Geography - note [time series]
reef 12 km in circumference
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (1998 est.)
Location [time series]
Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Map references [time series]
Political Map of the World
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Natural hazards [time series]
NA
Natural resources [time series]
fish
Terrain [time series]
coral atoll
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local short form: Ile Clipperton local long form: none former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status [time series]
possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of France is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Introduction
Background [time series]
This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of France
People
Population [time series]
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only
Waterways [time series]
none