Réunion Island

Réunion, located at the east of Madagascar and south west of Mauritius, is situated in the Indian Ocean. The island is an overseas department of France and an integral part of France. The island is part of the Indian Ocean Commission. It is the first region in the world to use the euro. The first transaction using euro occurred at 12.01 a.m., when the former mayor of Saint-Denis René-Paul Victoria purchased a bag of lychees at a market.

HISTORY:- Union Island was first explored by the Portuguese navigators in the 16th century. In 1642, the island was passed to French control. In 1947, the island became an overseas department of France.

GEOGRAPHY:- Reunion Island is originally volcanic in nature. Reunion is composed of rugged mountains and short torrential rivers. The total area of the small island is 972 sq mi.

GOVERNMENT:- It is an overseas department of France. Union Island can send five deputies to the French National Assembly and three senators to the French Senate.

Prefect  Pierre-Henry Maccioni

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Union is composed of 4 arrondissements, 24 cantons, and 24 communes.

ECONOMY:- Sugar industry and tourism are the pillar of the economy of the island.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $4.811 billion; per capita $6,200.

Real growth rate: 2.5%.

Inflation: n.a.

Unemployment: 36% (1999 est.).

Arable land: 14%.

Agriculture: Sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn.

Labor force: 309,900 (2000); agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000).

Industries: Sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction.

Natural resources: Fish, arable land, hydropower.

Exports: $214 million (f.o.b., 1997): sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993).

Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997): manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products.

Major trading partners: France, Japan, Comoros, Bahrain, Germany, Italy (2004).

Monetary unit: Euro

LANGUAGE:- The official language of Union is French while Réunionnaise Creole is also widely spoken. Other languages include Mandarin, Hakka, Cantonese and some Indian languages.

CITIES:- The capital Saint-Denis is the largest city of the Union Island. Other large cities are Saint-Paul, Saint-Pierre, and Le Tampon.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of the island is 798,094 with an average growth rate of 1.3%.

Density per sq mi: 827

Literacy rate: 89% (2003 est.).

RACE:- French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian live in the island.

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 86%

Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist 14% (1995)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 18.9/1000

Infant mortality rate: 7.5/1000

Life expectancy: 74.4

CULTURE:- Réunionese culture is a fusion of European, African, Indian, Chinese and insular traditions while Réunionese cuisine and music are influenced from African, Indian, Chinese and European cultures.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 1,214 km (including 88 km of four-lane roads) (2001).

Ports and harbors: Le Port.

Airports: 2 (2004 est.).