Martinique

The Health in the Americas+¹ country profiles are based on the interagency indicators available as of the dates referenced. The sources are referenced in this table. In some cases, the values of the indicators may differ from the most recent data available in the country.

Environmental and social determinants of health

For the year 2000, the total population of Martinique was 432 544 people, and decreased by 2020 to 368 796, representing a decrease of -14,7% over the period. In terms of the country's demographic profile, the population aged 65 and over accounted for 22.1% of the total in 2020, an increase of 12.1 percentage points over 2000. Likewise, a ratio of 117.2 women for every 100 men and 136.8 older adults (aged 65 and over) for every 100 children under 15 years of age was reached in 2020. If we consider the population between 15 and 64 years of age as potentially active, i.e., susceptible to participate in labor activities, this represented 61.7% of the total population of Martinique in 2020, which is equivalent to 227,533 people. Thus, and considering the potentially passive population (59 648 under 15 years of age and 81 615 aged 65 and over), a potential dependency ratio of 52.6 potentially passive inhabitants for every 100 potentially active inhabitants was reached. This dependency ratio was 62.1 in 2000.

Life expectancy at birth for the year 2021 was 82.9 years - higher than the average for the Region of the Americas - which represents an increase of 6 years over the value for the year 2000.

Figure 1. Population pyramids, years 2000 and 2020

The literacy rate in Martinique was 96.9% in 2014. Among men, this indicator amounted to 98.0%, while among women it was 96.1%.

Health situation

Maternal and child health

Between the years 2010 and 2019, infant mortality decreased from 9.3 to 7.2 per 1 000 live births. This represents a decrease of 22.6%. The proportion of low-birth-weight births (

In relation to fertility, it is estimated that women have an average of 1.9 children throughout their reproductive lives. In the specific case of adolescent fertility, there was a 64.4% reduction, from 30.1 live births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years in 2000 to 11.1 in 2022. In 2012, 99.9% of the births were attended by trained personnel in 2012.

Communicable diseases

The rate of new HIV diagnoses per 100 000 population was estimated at 12 for the year 2019.

Status of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In Martinique in 2020, there were a total of 6 091 cases of COVID-19, representing 16 511 per million population. In 2021, there were 43 914 identified cases, equivalent to 119 041  per million population. In 2022, there were 169 524 identified cases, equivalent to 459 542 per million population. In 2020, there were 43 deaths directly caused by COVID-19 in people diagnosed with the disease, or 117 per million population; in 2021, 741 deaths were reported, or 2 009  per million. In 2022, 252 deaths directly caused by COVID-19 in people diagnosed with the disease, or  683 per million population. In 2020, Martinique ranked 32th in the Region of the Americas in terms of the number of deaths from COVID-19, and 6th in 2022, with a cumulative 2808 deaths per million population over the considered years (Figure 2).

By December 31, 2021, 39.5% of the country's population had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine applied, and by April 20, 2022 (latest available data), 38% of the population was fully vaccinated.

Figure 2. Cumulative COVID-19 deaths in the Region of the Americas, to 31 December 2021

The sources of the interagency indicators used in this profile can be found in this table.

For the latest data on health indicators for the Region of the Americas, be sure to visit the PAHO Core Indicators portal.