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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean
Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago |
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Geographic coordinates:
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14 40 N, 61 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 1,100
sq km
water: 40 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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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
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Terrain:
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mountainous with indented coastline;
dormant volcano |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m |
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Natural resources:
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coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable
land |
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Land use:
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arable land:
10.38%
permanent crops: 9.43%
other: 80.19% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic
activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)
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Geography - note:
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the island is dominated by Mount Pelee,
which on 8 May 1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint
Pierre, killing 30,000 inhabitants |
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Economy - overview:
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The economy is based on sugarcane,
bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of
GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined,
with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana
exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable,
and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade
deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism,
which employs more than 11,000 people, has become more important than
agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2001
est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.9% (1990) |
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Labor force:
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165,900 (1998) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services
73% (1997) |
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Unemployment rate:
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27.2% (1998) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$900 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140
million (1996) |
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Agriculture - products:
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pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
vegetables, sugarcane |
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Industries:
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construction, rum, cement, oil refining,
sugar, tourism |
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Exports - commodities:
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refined petroleum products, bananas, rum,
pineapples (2001 est.) |
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Exports - partners:
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France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2000)
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Imports - commodities:
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petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs,
construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
|
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Imports - partners:
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France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%,
Italy 4%, US 3% (2000) |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR) |