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Compare Reunion (2001) - Western Sahara (2007)

Compare Reunion (2001) z Western Sahara (2007)

 Reunion (2001)Western Sahara (2007)
 ReunionWestern Sahara
Administrative divisions none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure 0-14 years:
32.07% (male 120,259; female 114,669)

15-64 years:
62.25% (male 224,347; female 231,698)

65 years and over:
5.68% (male 16,892; female 24,705) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 88,176/female 85,421)


15-64 years: 52.3% (male 98,345/female 101,895)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,705/female 5,075) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish
Airports 2 (2000 est.) 9 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 6


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Area total:
2,512 sq km

land:
2,502 sq km

water:
10 sq km
total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Rhode Island about the size of Colorado
Background The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians gave the island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route. Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Birth rate 21.26 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA
Budget revenues:
NA

expenditures:
NA
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
Capital Saint-Denis none


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline 207 km 1,110 km
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) -
Country name conventional long form:
Department of Reunion

conventional short form:
Reunion

local long form:
none

local short form:
Ile de la Reunion

former:
Bourbon Island
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
Currency French franc (FRF); euro (EUR) -
Death rate 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA
Debt - external $NA $NA
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department of France) none
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas department of France) none
Disputes - international none Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; several states have extended diplomatic relations to the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" represented by the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria, while others recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; most of the approximately 102,000 Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria
Economic aid - recipient $NA; note - substantial annual subsidies from France $NA
Economy - overview The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to more than 40% of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France. Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006, the Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.
Electricity - consumption 1.023 billion kWh (1999) 79.05 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 1.1 billion kWh (1999) 85 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
54.55%

hydro:
45.45%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues NA sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements - party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian Arab, Berber
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.06594 (January 2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996) Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)

head of government:
President of the General Council Jean-Luc POUDROUX (since NA March 1998) and President of the Regional Council Paul VERGES (since NA March 1993)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
none
Exports $214 million (f.o.b., 1997) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993) phosphates 62%
Exports - partners France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (1994) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description the flag of France is used -
GDP purchasing power parity - $3.4 billion (1998 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1998 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 3.8% (1998 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 21 06 S, 55 36 E 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Geography - note - the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Highways total:
2,724 km

paved:
1,300 km (including 73 km of four-lane road)

unpaved:
1,424 km

note:
370 km of road are maintained by national authorities, 754 km by departmental authorities and 1600 km by local authorities (1994)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (1994) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
Independence none (overseas department of France) -
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 8.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% NA%
International organization participation FZ, InOC, WFTU none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land 60 sq km (1993 est.) NA
Judicial branch Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel -
Labor force 261,000 (1995) 12,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services 73% (1990) agriculture: 50%


industry and services: 50%
Land boundaries 0 km total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use arable land:
17%

permanent crops:
2%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
35%

other:
41% (1993 est.)
arable land: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2005)
Languages French (official), Creole widely used Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Legal system French law -
Legislative branch unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:
General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 7, UDF 8, PS 6, RPR 4, various right-wing candidates 15, various left-wing candidates 5

note:
Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate; elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1, PCR 2; Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 3, PS 1, and RPR-UDF 1
-
Life expectancy at birth total population:
72.93 years

male:
69.53 years

female:
76.49 years (2001 est.)
total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
79%

male:
76%

female:
80% (1982 est.)
NA
Location Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references World Africa
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Merchant marine total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,264 GRT/44,885 DWT

ships by type:
chemical tanker 1 (2000 est.)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
190,846 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
97,497 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
6,243 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) -
Nationality noun:
Reunionese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Reunionese
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources fish, arable land, hydropower phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Political parties and leaders Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Gilbert GERARD] -
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 732,570 (July 2001 est.) 382,617


note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.57% (2001 est.) NA
Ports and harbors Le Port, Pointe des Galets -
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 173,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995) Muslim
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.68 male(s)/female

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Telephone system general assessment:
adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis

domestic:
modern open wire and microwave radio relay network

international:
radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use 236,500 (1997) about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular 85,000 (1999) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 22 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (1997) NA
Terrain mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate 2.58 children born/woman (2001 est.) NA
Unemployment rate 42.8% (1998) NA%
Waterways none -
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