x 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 76.74 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 2.55 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)

Languages: French (official), Creole widely used

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

Government Reunion

Country name: Department of Reunion conventional short form: Bourbon
Island

Dependency status: overseas department of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Saint-Denis

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

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

National holiday: Bastille Day, 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 Jacques CHIRAC of France
(since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Gonthier FRIEDERICI (since NA)
elections: 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 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

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (49 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
1998 (next to be held NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998
(next to be held NA 2004) election results: Gene