,857 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.03% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.14 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.07 years
male:
71 years
female:
77.29 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.78 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Reunionese
Ethnic divisions:
French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%
Languages:
French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population:
69%
male:
67%
female:
74%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
note:
63% of population of working age (1983)

@Reunion, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Department of Reunion
conventional short form:
Reunion
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ile de la Reunion
Digraph:
RE
Type:
overseas department of France
Capital:
Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government:
Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since NA)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
General Council:
elections last held 22 March 1991 (next to be held March 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total) seats by
party NA
Regional Council:
elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA March 1998);
results - UPF 25.6%, PCR 17.9%, PS 10.5%, Independent 33.4%, other
12.6%; seats - (45 total) Sudre 17, UPF 14, PCR 9, PS 5
French Senate:
elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total) RPR 1, FRA 1,
independent 1
French National Assembly:
elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be hel