Martinique

Martinique Background

Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.

Martinique Information

• Population: 429,510 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural) adjective: Martiniquais
• Location:: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
• Religions:: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%, other 3.5% (1997)
• Ethnic Groups:: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Chinese less than 5%
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 1,100 sq km water: 40 sq km land: 1,060 sq km
• Coast Line: 350 km
• Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
• Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 10.38% permanent crops: 9.43% other: 80.19% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: NA
• Natural Resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
• Highways: total: 2,105 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2000)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
• Airports: 2 (2003 est.)