Guadeloupe is the center of the Caribbean's Creole culture, boasting a spirited blend of French and African influences. The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. Other crops, such as bananas, eggplant, and flowers, are slowly replacing the traditional sugarcane crop. Guadeloupe is located in the Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, and southeast of Puerto Rico.

Area: 1,780 sq km

Population: 412,000

Capital: Basse-Terre

People: Black or mulatto 90%, White 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Language: French

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%

Government: overseas Department of France

GDP: US$3.7 billion

Major Industries: Construction, cement, rum, sugar, and tourism

Major Trading Partners: France, Martinique, and the US