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Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar

Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

Map references: World

Area:
total area: 2,510 sq km
land area: 2,500 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 201 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from
May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along
coast
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Natural resources: fish, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 16%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 35%
other: 41% (1993)

Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April);
Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
international agreements: NA

People
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Population: 679,198 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 112,413; female 107,187)
15-64 years: 62% (male 207,386; female 214,308)
65 years and over: 6% (male 15,610; female 22,294) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.93% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 24.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.77 years
male: 71.71 years
female: 77.98 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese

Ethnic divisions: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani,
Indian

Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist

Languages: French (official), Creole widely used

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
total population: 79%
male: 76%
female: 80%

Government
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Name