One of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France. Guadeloupe is made up of two main islands, together forming a butterfly shape. Basse-Terre, to the west, and Grande-Terre, to the east, are separated by a narrow channel. Basse-Terre is covered by high, volcanic mountains while Grande-Terre is flatter, with rolling hills, plains and mangrove swamps around its coast. Both islands are covered by tropical forests and scrublands. The climate is hot, breezy and tropical. Between June and October the islands are at risk from hurricanes.

People

Guadeloupe’s population is mainly made up of the descendants of Africans brought to work on sugar plantations in the 18th century. They are Roman Catholic; most people speak French along with Creole, a mixture of French and African languages. Nearly everyone in Îles des Saintes is of French descent; very few Africans were brought to these islands because the French settlers there were fishermen, not sugar planters.

Economy

Guadeloupe has a long history of sugar production; sugar cane has been grown here since the mid-17th century. Although sugar is still a major export, other crops such as bananas, flowers, squash and aubergines are becoming more important. France supplies much of Guadeloupe’s food, along with products to support the tourist industry, a fast-growing source of income on the islands. Most tourists visit from France.

Facts about Guadeloupe

Population 378,561 (2024)

Area 1629 sq km

Highest Point La Grande Soufrière, 1467m (4813 ft)

Capital Basse-Terre, population 9419

Other major cities Pointe-à-Pitre (pop. 14,855; urban area 250,952)

Languages French, Antillean Creole

Religions Christian (Roman Catholic) 95%, Christian (Protestant) 1%, others 4%

Ethnicity black African 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese and others 5%

Currency Euro (EUR)

Chief exports bananas, sugar, rum