Map:

Overview:
Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.

The People:
Population: 432,900 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 49,112/female 47,697)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 145,531/female 145,250)
65 years and over: 10.5% (male 20,423/female 24,887) (2005 est.)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%, other 3.5% (1997)

Government Type:
N/A

Leader(s) to pray for:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Yves DASSONVILLE (since 14 January 2004); note - took office 8 February 2004
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)

Source: The World Factbook

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