LocationDue east of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean.
Area2,507 sq km (968 sq miles).
Population777,000 (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density309.9 per sq km.
CapitalSaint-Denis.
Population: 178,000 (UN estimate 2003).
GovernmentRéunion is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic.
LanguageFrench is the official language. Local Creole
patois is also spoken.
ReligionThe majority of the population
is Roman Catholic, with a Muslim minority.
TimeGMT + 4.
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Head of GovernmentNassimah Dindar, President of the General Council.
Head of StatePresident Nicolas Sarkozy since 2007, represented locally by Prefect Laurent Cayrel since 2005.
Recent HistoryThe most recent elections to the Regional Council and the General Council, held in 1998 and 2000 respectively, were won by a right-wing coalition and the left-wing alliance of Communists and Socialists.
TelephoneCountry code: 262. There are no area codes.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies.
InternetThere are Internet cafes in towns throughout Réunion.
MediaTV and radio services are provided by the French public overseas broadcaster,
RFO.
PostAirmail to Western Europe takes up to three weeks.
Press• The two biggest dailies are the
Journal de l’Ile de la Réunion and the
Quotidien de la Réunion.
• Weekly periodicals include
L’Economie de la Réunion and
Témoignages.
• There are no English-language dailies.
Radio•
RFO Réunion is a public service that operates radio stations.
As for France (see
France section).
Contact Information:Diplomatic representationRéunion is a
Département d’Outre-Mer (Overseas Department) of the Republic of France, and is represented abroad by French embassies – see
France section.
Maison de la France in the UK178 Piccadilly, London W1J 9AL, UK
Tel: 0906 824 4123 (information line; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website:
www.franceguide.com Comité du Tourisme de la RéunionPlace du 20 Décembre 1848, BP 615, 97472 Saint-Denis, Cedex, Réunion
Tel: (262) 210 041.
Website:
www.la-reunion-tourisme.com
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