# The World Factbook (1982)/Reunion
## REUNIONREUNION

* (See reference map VII)

### LANDLAND

2,512 km$^2$; two-thirds of island extremely rugged, consisting of volcanic mountains; 48,600 hectares (less than one-fifth of the land) under cultivation

### WATERWATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm
Coastline: 201 km

### PEOPLEPEOPLE

Population: 521,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.4%
Nationality: noun—Reunionese (sing. and pl.); adjective—Reunionese
Ethnic divisions: most of the population is of thoroughly intermixed ancestry of French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian origin
Religion: 94% Roman Catholic
Language: French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy: over 80% among younger generation
Labor force: primarily agricultural workers; high seasonal unemployment

### GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Official name: Department of Reunion
Type: overseas department of France; represented in French Parliament by three deputies and two senators
Capital: Saint-Denis
Legal system: French law
Branches: Reunion is administered by a Prefect appointed by the French Minister of Interior, assisted by a Secretary General and an elected 36-man General Council Government leader: Prefect Michel LEVALLOIS
Suffrage: universal adult
Elections: last municipal and general council elections in 1976; parliamentary election June 1981
​Political parties and leaders: Reunion Communist Party (RCP) led by Paul Verges and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Reunion led by Georges Sinamale; other political candidates affiliated with metropolitan French parties, which do not maintain permanent organizations on Reunion
Voting strength (Parliamentary election 1981): the French Democratic Union-Rally for the Republic coalition elected two deputies; the Socialists elected one deputy
Communists: Communist Party small, but has support among sugarcane cutters, the minuscule OCMLR, and in Le Port District
Member of: EC, WFTU

### ECONOMYECONOMY

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, also some tea, tobacco, and coffee; food crop inadequate, most food needs imported
Major industries: 12 sugar processing mills, rum distilling plants, cigarette factory, 2 tea plants, fruit juice plant, canning factory, a slaughterhouse, and several small shops producing handicraft items
Electric power: 105,000 kW capacity (1980); 285 million kWh produced (1980), 577 kWh per capita
Exports: $62 million (f.o.b., 1975); 90% sugar, 4% perfume essences, 5% rum and molasses, 1% vanilla and tea (1974)
Imports: $410 million (c.i.f., 1975); manufactured goods, food, beverages, and tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials and petroleum products
Major trade partners: France (in 1970 supplied 62% of Reunion's imports, purchased 76% of its exports); Mauritius (supplied 12% of imports)
Aid: economic commitments—Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (1970-78), $3,257 million
Monetary conversion rate: 4.705 French francs=US$1
Fiscal year: probably calendar year

### COMMUNICATIONSCOMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none
Highways: 1,983 km total; 1,683 km paved, 300 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized earth
Ports: 1 major (Port des Galets)
Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft, leased in
Airfields: 6 total, 6 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: adequate system for needs; fairly modern open-wire lines and radiocommunication stations; principal center Saint-Denis; radiocommunication to Comoros Islands, France, Madagascar, and Mauritius; 36,000 telephones (7.2 per 100 popl.); 2 AM and 8 FM stations; 1 TV station with 13 relay transmitters; 1 Indian Ocean satellite station

### DEFENSE FORCESDEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 144,000; 77,000 fit for military service; 7,000 reach military age (18) annually