NET MIGRATION RATE: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1989)
INFANT MORTALITY RATE: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1989)
LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH: 69 years male, 75 years female (1989)
TOTAL FERTILITY RATE: 2.7 children born/woman (1989)
NATIONALITY: noun--Reunionese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Reunionese
ETHNIC DIVISIONS: most of the population is of intermixed French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian ancestry
RELIGION: 94% Roman Catholic
LANGUAGE: French (official); Creole widely used
LITERACY: NA%, but over 80% among younger generation
LABOR FORCE: NA; 30% agriculture, 21% industry, 49% services (1981); 63% of population of working age (1983)
ORGANIZED LABOR: General Confederation of Workers of Reunion (CGTR)
.GOVERNMENT OF REUNION
LONG-FORM NAME: Department of Reunion
TYPE: overseas department of France
CAPITAL: Saint-Denis
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: none (overseas department of France)
INDEPENDENCE: none (overseas department of France)
CONSTITUTION: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
LEGAL SYSTEM: French law
NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
BRANCHES: administered by a prefect appointed by the French minister of interior, assisted by a secretary general and an elected 36-man General Council; in 1974 France created an elected 45-member Regional Assembly to coordinate economic and social development policies; in 1981 both the General Council and the Regional Council received greater authority for fiscal policy
CHIEF OF STATE: President Francois Maurice MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: Commissioner of the Republic Jean ANCIAUX (since NA)
SUFFRAGE: universal adult
ELECTIONS: last parliamentary election June 1981; last municipal and General Council elections in 1983; Regional Council election 16 March 1986
POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois Mas; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert Gerard; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR); France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre Thien Ah Koon; Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude Fruteau; Social Democrats (CDS), other small parties
VOTING STRENGTH: (Regional Council election 16 March 1986) RPR/UDF 18 seats (36.8%), PCR 13 seats (28.2%), FRA and other right wing 8 seats (17.3%), PS 6 seats (14.1%), other no seats (3.6%); French National Assembly--deputies: 2 PCR, 1 RPR, 1 UDF-CDS, 1 FRA; representatives 1 RPR-UDF, 1 PS, 1 independent
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: as an overseas department of France, Reunionese interests are represented in the US by France
FLAG: the flag of France is used
.ECONOMY OF RENUION
OVERVIEW: The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government is pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve a high unemployment rate that was over 30% in 1986. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.
GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $4,290; real growth rate NA% (1985)
INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 1.9% (1986)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 32.0%; high seasonal unemployment (1986)
BUDGET: revenues $358 million; expenditures $914 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986)
EXPORTS: $136 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities-- sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%, vanilla and tea 1%; partners-- France, Mauritius, Bahrain, S. Africa, Italy
IMPORTS: $1.1 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities-- manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products; partners-- France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
EXTERNAL DEBT: NA
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate NA
ELECTRICITY: 245,000 kW capacity; 546 million kWh produced, 980 kWh per capita (1988)
INDUSTRIES: sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing handicraft items
AGRICULTURE: cash crops--almost entirely sugarcane, small amounts of vanilla and perfume plants; food crops--tropical fruit and vegetables, manioc, bananas, corn, market garden produce, some tea, tobacco, and coffee; food crop inadequate, most food needs imported
AID: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-81), $4.0 billion
CURRENCY: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
EXCHANGE RATES: French francs (F) per US$1--5.6497 (February 1990), 6.2503 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)
FISCAL YEAR: calendar year
.COMMUNICATIONS IN REUNION
HIGHWAYS: 2,800 km (1,738 mi) total; 2,200 km paved, 600 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized earth
PORTS: Pointe des Galets
CIVIL AIR: 1 major transport aircraft
AIRPORTS: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: adequate system for needs; modern open-wire line and radio relay network; principal center Saint-Denis; radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new radio relay route to Mauritius; 85,900 telephones; stations--3 AM, 13 FM, 2 TV; 1 Indian Ocean satellite station
.DEFENSE FORCES OF REUNION
NOTE: defense is the responsibility of France
.TRAVEL IN REUNION
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Valid passport required. As of July 1989, visa not required for visits of 30 days or less. Onward/return ticket required. Visa required for those planning to work, study, or stay longer than 30 days. Vaccination certificate not required unless arriving from an area infected with yellow fever.
HEALTH: Health requirements change; check latest information.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING: Humid year round, with major storms usually during the hot season from Nov-Apr; cool season from Jun-Sep.
TELEPHONE: When dialing direct from the U.S., dial 011 (international access code) + 262 [country code] + local number.
TIME: 9 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
ELECTRIC CURRENT: 110V
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
IMPORTANT!! All requirements/recommendations are subject to change. Be sure to check latest information.
