MARTINIQUE - Population
With 381 000 inhabitants in 1999, the island has a high population density: 338 inhabitants/km2. In 1999 Martinique accounted for 0.6% the population of France. In terms of total population Martinique ranks 24th out of the 26 regions of France, but in terms of the population density it ranks second.
The population continues to grow at an average rhythm of around 2 000 inhabitants per year. Effectively, the youthfulness and life expectancy (the highest of the French overseas départements and close to that of metropolitan France) more than compensate for a shrinking fertility rate and the slight migration deficit. Nevertheless, population forecasts for 2030 estimate a strong ageing of the population and an end to demographic growth. On the one hand the boom generations (1955 ? 1968) will be old, and on the other, it is especially the young generations that are leaving the country, and adults that are settling there.
Lowest population growth rate of the French overseas départements
Between 1990 and 1999 Martinique?s population grew at an average rate of 0.66% per year. Martinique has the lowest population growth rate of the French overseas départements, and even in the metropolitan there are two regions that experienced higher growth rates (Alsace and Languedoc-Roussillon). Demographic growth in Martinique is fuelled exclusively by the natural increase (+1% per year on average). Martinique?s migration deficit ran at a rate of -0.33% per year on average.
Martinique?s population is young, with 35.6% of its inhabitant aged less than 25, and only 16.6% aged 60 or more. But the forecast for 2030 is that the share of the population aged less than 25 will be down to 26% and that the share of the 60 plus age band will make up 35%.
The age structure is reflected in the fertility, birth and mortality rates. The birth rate is above the national average. In 1999 the crude birth rate was 15.1 live births per 1 000 inhabitants compared to the national average of 12.9 live births per 1 000 inhabitants. Compared to 1990 the number of live births fell from 6 400 to 5 800 in 1999 (-9.4%). In 2000 the number of births was 5 900 (+1.7% compared to 1999). The fertility rate is the lowest of the French overseas départements (190 children per 100 women) and lower than in two metropolitan regions (Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy). The crude death rate is below the national average with 6.7 deaths per 1 000 inhabitants, compared to the national average of 9.1. However the infant mortality rate (6.8 deaths of children under 1 year old per 1 000 live births) is above the national average (4.4).
In 1999 the foreign population accounted for less than 1% of the population of Martinique. EU nationals account for 15% of the foreign population.
Concentration around Fort-de-France
The conurbations of Fort-de-France (134 727 inhabitants in 1999), Le Lamentin, and Sainte Marie accommodate half the population of Martinique. Jobs are even more strongly concentrated: two thirds of jobs are in Fort-de-France, Le Lamentin and Sainte Marie.
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