Martinique

Cultural Attributes

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Holidays

• Bastille Day

  7/14

  Other

Dates of Interest

• July 14th

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Historical Eras

Overview

Timeline of Key Events

1. 130

   http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm

   Appearance of the first inhabitants : Arawaks. They come from the tropical forest

2. 295

   http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm

   Disappearance of the Arawak culture, following a eruption of the vulcano ”montagne Peléel“.The island is left during one century

3. 400

   http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm

   New arawak arrival.

4. 600

   http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm

   Appearance of a new civilization, the Caraïbes. Like the Arawak one, it is from the tropical forest. The Arawaks fear the Caraïbes, because they had strange habits (castration, ...) and confront them during years

5. 600

   http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm

   Appearance of a new civilization, the Caraïbes. Like the Arawak one, it is from the tropical forest. The Arawaks fear the Caraïbes, because they had strange habits (castration, ...) and confront them during years. However, the Arawaks are exterminated and they disappear of the island.

6. 1502

   http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm

   Christopher Colombus discovers Martinique. He lands where the town called Carbet is now located (in the north of the island, on the Caribbean Sea).

7. 1635

   http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm

   Belain d'Esnambuc lands near the Roxelane river with a hundred of settlers. They build a fort to protect the area (origin of the fort of Saint Pierre).

Religion

Languages Spoken

• Creole patois
• French

Population

Population

360,000

Nationality Noun

Martiniquais (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Chinese less than 5%

Education

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Martinique is notably high compared to many Caribbean nations and even rivals that of several Western European countries. The island's residents can expect to live, on average, into their early 80s, with overall life expectancy estimated at approximately 81 to 83 years. As is common globally, women in Martinique tend to outlive men by several years, with female life expectancy reaching approximately 85 years, while male life expectancy sits closer to 79 to 80 years. These strong figures are largely a reflection of Martinique's status as an overseas region and department of France. As such, the island benefits directly from the French national healthcare system, giving residents access to high-quality medical services, hospitals, preventive care, and social support programs that are funded in part by the French central government. This integration into the French public health infrastructure distinguishes Martinique from many of its independent Caribbean neighbors, where healthcare access can be more limited. The island's diet, historically rich in fresh fish, tropical fruits, and vegetables, has traditionally supported good cardiovascular health among the population, though modern dietary shifts have brought increasing concerns around obesity, diabetes, and hypertension — chronic conditions that public health officials continue to monitor closely. Despite these emerging challenges, overall health outcomes for Martinique's residents remain strong. Population aging is an important related trend. With high life expectancy and declining birth rates, Martinique has one of the older median populations in the Caribbean region. The island's population has been gradually declining, now estimated at around 360,000, partly due to emigration of younger residents to metropolitan France. This demographic shift places growing pressure on healthcare and pension systems and has contributed to ongoing discussions about sustainable social services on the island. Overall, the combination of French-standard medical infrastructure, a relatively high standard of living, and access to social welfare programs continues to support life expectancy figures that place Martinique among the healthiest populations in the wider Caribbean and Atlantic region.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Martinique is notably high compared to many Caribbean nations and even rivals that of several Western European countries. The island's residents can expect to live, on average, into their early 80s, with overall life expectancy estimated at approximately 81 to 83 years. As is common globally, women in Martinique tend to outlive men by several years, with female life expectancy reaching approximately 85 years, while male life expectancy sits closer to 79 to 80 years. These strong figures are largely a reflection of Martinique's status as an overseas region and department of France. As such, the island benefits directly from the French national healthcare system, giving residents access to high-quality medical services, hospitals, preventive care, and social support programs that are funded in part by the French central government. This integration into the French public health infrastructure distinguishes Martinique from many of its independent Caribbean neighbors, where healthcare access can be more limited. The island's diet, historically rich in fresh fish, tropical fruits, and vegetables, has traditionally supported good cardiovascular health among the population, though modern dietary shifts have brought increasing concerns around obesity, diabetes, and hypertension — chronic conditions that public health officials continue to monitor closely. Despite these emerging challenges, overall health outcomes for Martinique's residents remain strong. Population aging is an important related trend. With high life expectancy and declining birth rates, Martinique has one of the older median populations in the Caribbean region. The island's population has been gradually declining, now estimated at around 360,000, partly due to emigration of younger residents to metropolitan France. This demographic shift places growing pressure on healthcare and pension systems and has contributed to ongoing discussions about sustainable social services on the island. Overall, the combination of French-standard medical infrastructure, a relatively high standard of living, and access to social welfare programs continues to support life expectancy figures that place Martinique among the healthiest populations in the wider Caribbean and Atlantic region.

Country Identity

Country Name

Martinique

Full Country Name

Department of Martinique

Local - Long

Departement de la Martinique

Local - Short

Martinique

Government Structure

Government Type

NA

Legal System

French legal system

Executive Branch

chief of state: President of France Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); Prefect Jean-Christophe BOUVIER (since 2021) head of government: President of the Territorial Collectivity Serge LETCHIMY (since December 2021); note - Martinique became a single Territorial Collectivity in December 2015, replacing the former separate General Council and Regional Council cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of that council

Legislative Branch

Martinique's legislative structure underwent a significant reform in 2015, when the previously separate General Council (Conseil Général) and Regional Council (Conseil Régional) were merged into a single body, the Territorial Council (Conseil Territorial de Martinique). This unified assembly has 51 seats and is led by a President elected from among its members. Members of the Territorial Council are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms. The most recent territorial elections were held in June 2021, resulting in a victory for the Martinican independence-leaning coalition led by Serge Letchimy of the Martinican Progressive Party (PPM), which secured a majority of seats. As an overseas region and department of France, Martinique also sends elected representatives to the French Parliament. Martinique elects four deputies to the French National Assembly, with the most recent elections held in June 2022. Martinique is also represented by two senators in the French Senate, with the most recent senatorial elections held in September 2023. These representatives participate fully in French national legislative affairs, reflecting Martinique's status as an integral part of the French Republic.

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Independence

none (overseas department of France)

National Holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Capital City

Capital Name

Fort-de-France

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

Euro (EUR)

GDP Real Growth Rate

0.8%