Reunion
This Page was last updated on the 25th. October, 2005.
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|
Country |
Reunion |
|
Official Name |
Department of Reunion |
| Former Name | Ile de la Reunion, Bourbon Island, Department of Reunion (Portuguese discovered uninhabited island in 1513; Africans, Chinese, French, Malays, and Malabar Indians arrived between 17th-19th centuries.) |
|
Capital |
Saint-Denis |
|
Main Towns |
Saint-Denis |
|
Subdivisions |
None - Overseas Department of France - but 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons |
|
Independence |
Overseas Department of France |
| Constitution | 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) |
| National Holiday | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
|
UN Membership |
n/a |
|
OAU Membership |
n/a |
|
Commonwealth |
n/a |
|
Other Organisations |
Franc Zone (FZ), Indian Ocean Commission (InOC), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). |
|
Population |
732,570 (July 2001 est.) 755,171 (July 2003 est.) 776,948 (July 2005 est.) |
|
Area |
970 sq. mls. (2,512 sq. kms.) |
|
Density |
--- |
|
Highest Point |
Piton des Neiges 10,068 ft. (3,069 m.) |
|
Lowest Point |
Indian Ocean - sea level |
|
Neighbours |
None - Indian Ocean |
|
Life Expectancy |
74 years (1995), total population:
72.93 years, male: 69.53 years, female: 76.49 years (2001
est.) |
| Infant Mortality Rate | total:
8.13 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003
est.), male: 8.89 deaths/1,000 live births total: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.52 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS | adult prevalence rate: NA%, people living with HIV/AIDS: NA, HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA |
|
Adult Literacy Rate |
total population: 79%,
male: 76%, female: 80% (1982 est.) |
|
Ethnic Groups |
French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian |
|
Languages |
French (official), Creole widely used |
|
Religions |
Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995) |
|
Type of Government |
Overseas Department of France |
|
President |
Jacques Chirac, President of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Laurent Cayrel (since 16 July 2005) |
|
Prime Minister |
--- |
| Political Parties | Communist Party of Reunion (PCR); Rally for the Republic (RPR); Socialist Party (PS); Union for French Democracy (UDF). |
|
Ruling Party |
General Council (47 seats), 3 representatives in the French Senate. |
|
Currency |
Euro
(EUR) |
|
GDP |
purchasing power parity - US$4.57 billion (2004 est.) |
|
GNP |
US$7,900 (1994) |
| Per Capita Income | |
| Population Below Poverty Line | NA% |
| Land Use | arable land: 13.6% permanent crops: 1.2% other: 85.2% (2001) Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural Resources | fish, arable land, hydropower |
| Oil and Natural Gas | Oil production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001) |
| Military | Military
branches: no regular indigenous military forces; French forces (including
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie); defense is the responsibility
of France. Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 198,341 (2003 est.) males age 18-49: 183,421 (2005 est.) |
| Economic Aid Received | substantial annual subsidies from France |
|
Debt |
n/a |
|
Major Imports |
manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products |
|
Imports from |
US$2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997) |
|
Major Exports |
sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993) |
|
Exports to |
US$214 million f.o.b. (1997) |
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|
The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 25 October, 2005 |
Page 39 of 61 |