Part 687

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.5% (1996 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain; in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing ______________________________________________________________________

REUNION

(overseas department of France)

@Reunion:Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

Map references: World

Area: total: 2,510 sq km land: 2,500 sq km water : 10 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 201 km

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

Climate: tropical, but temperature 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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Natural resources: fish, arable land

Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland : 35% other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano

Environment - current issues: NA

Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

@Reunion:People

Population: 692,204 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years : 32% (male 114,655; female 109,301) 15-64 years: 62% (male 211,112; female 217,897) 65 years and over: 6% (male 16,211; female 23,028) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.87% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 23.4 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)