View source for Réunion

{{Short description|Overseas department of France in the Indian Ocean}}
{{Redirect|La Réunion|other uses| La Reunion (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| official_name      = La Réunion
| native_name        = {{native name|fr|La Réunion}}<br/>{{native name|rcf|La Rényon}}
| native_name_lang   = 
| settlement_type    = [[Overseas France|Overseas]] [[Departments of France|department]], [[Regions of France|region]] of [[France]] and [[Special territories of members of the European Economic Area#Outermost Regions|outermost region]] of the [[European Union]]
| image_shield       = Armoiries Réunion.svg
| shield_size        = 110
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 75px
| image_map          = Département 974 in France (zoom).svg
| map_caption        = 
| motto              = {{langnf|la|[[Florebo quocumque ferar]]|I will flourish wherever I am brought|break=yes}}
| anthem             = {{lang|fr|[[La Marseillaise]]}} (national)<br/>{{small|("The Marseillaise")}}{{parabr}}{{center|[[File:La Marseillaise.ogg]]}}{{lang|fr|[[P'tite fleur aimée]]|italic=no}} (regional){{parabr}}{{center|[[File:Unofficial Anthem of Réunion - Ptite fleur aimée.ogg]]}}
| coordinates        = {{Coord|21|06|52|S|55|31|57|E|region:RE_type:adm1st_scale:500000|display=ti}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|France}}
| seat_type          = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat               = [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]]
| parts_type         = [[Departments of France|Departments]]
| parts_style        = list
| parts              = 1
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[List of Presidents of the Regional Council of Réunion|President of Regional Council]]
| leader_name        = [[Huguette Bello]] ([[Pour La Réunion (political party)|PLR]])
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 2511
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = 15th region
| population_footnotes = <ref name="pop">{{Cite web |title=Estimation de population par région, sexe et grande classe d'âge – Années 1975 à 2024 |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/7752095/estim-pop-nreg-sexe-gca-1975-2024.xls |access-date=2024-01-17 |language=fr }}</ref>
| population_total   = 885,700
| population_as_of   = January 2024
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Réunionese
| timezone1          = RET
| utc_offset1        = +04:00
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    = 
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref><!--Regional gross domestic product by NUTS 2 region - million EUR-->{{cite Q|Q131097685}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €21.67 billion
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €24,465
| blank_name_sec2    = Currency
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]]) ([[ISO 4217|EUR]])
| website            = [http://www.reunion.pref.gouv.fr/ Prefecture]<br />[http://www.regionreunion.com Regional Council]<br />[http://www.cg974.fr/ Departmental Council]
| iso_code           = {{hlist|[[ISO 3166-2:RE|RE]]|[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-974]]}}
| footnotes          = 
| name               = 
| leader_title1      = [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|President of Departmental Council]]
| leader_name1       = Cyrille Melchior ([[The Republicans (France)|LR]])
}}
'''La Réunion''' ({{IPAc-en|r|iː|ˈ|juː|n|j|ə|n}}; {{IPA|fr|la ʁe.ynjɔ̃|lang|Fr-La Réunion.ogg}}; {{langx|rcf|La Rényon|label=[[Réunion Creole|Reunionese Creole]]}}; known as {{lang|fr|Île Bourbon}} before 1848) is an island in the [[Indian Ocean]] that is an [[overseas departments and regions of France|overseas department and region]] of France. Part of the [[Mascarene Islands]], it is located approximately {{cvt|679|km|mi}} east of the island of [[Madagascar]] and {{cvt|175|km|mi}} southwest of the island of [[Mauritius]]. {{As of|January 2024}}, it had a population of 885,700.<ref name="pop" /> Its capital and largest city is [[Saint-Denis, La Réunion|Saint-Denis]].

La Réunion was uninhabited until French immigrants and colonial subjects settled the island in the 17th century. Its tropical climate led to the development of a plantation economy focused primarily on sugar; slaves from East Africa were imported as fieldworkers, followed by Malays, [[Annamite|Vietnamese]], Chinese, and Indians as indentured laborers. Today, the greatest proportion of the population is of mixed descent, while the predominant language is [[Réunion Creole]], though French remains the sole official language.

Since 1946, Réunion has been governed as a [[regions of France|French region]] and thus has a similar status to its counterparts in Metropolitan France. Consequently, it is one of the [[special member state territories and the European Union|outermost regions]] of the [[European Union]] and part of the [[eurozone]];<ref>Réunion is pictured on all [[Euro banknotes]], on the back at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomination.</ref> it is, along with the French overseas department of [[Mayotte]], one of the two eurozone areas in the [[Southern Hemisphere]]. Owing to its strategic location, France maintains a large military presence.  [[File:Proposed flag of Réunion (VAR).svg|thumb|Lo Mavéli (Lö Mahavéli) or Le Volcan rayonnant (The radiant volcano),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-09 |title=Scoop : Le drapeau réunionnais ne s'appelle pas "lo mavéli" ! |url=https://guide-reunion.fr/breves/detail/scoop-le-drapeau-reunionnais-ne-sappelle-pas-lo-maveli/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=guide-reunion.fr |language=fr}}</ref> the unofficial [[flag of Réunion]] from 2003 used officially by various local authorities, like [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]] and [[Saint-Philippe]].]]

== Name ==
France took possession of the island in the 17th century, naming it  [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]], after the dynasty that then ruled France. To break with this name, which was too attached to the ''[[Ancien Régime]]'', the [[National Convention]] decided on 23 March 1793<ref>Jean Baptiste Duvergier, ''Collection complète des lois [...]'', éd. A. Guyot et Scribe, Paris, 1834, «Décret du 23 mars 1793», <abbr>p.</abbr> 205</ref> to rename the territory Réunion Island. ("La Réunion", in French, usually means "meeting" or "assembly" rather than "reunion". This name was presumably chosen in homage to the meeting of the [[fédéré]]s of Marseilles and the Paris [[National Guard (France)|National Guards]] that preceded the [[insurrection of 10 August 1792]]. No document establishes this and the use of the word "meeting" could have been purely symbolic.)<ref>Daniel Vaxellaire, ''Le Grand Livre de l'histoire de La Réunion'', <abbr>vol.</abbr> 1 : ''Des origines à 1848'', éd. Orphie, 2000, 701 p. ISBN 978-2-87763-101-3 et 978-2877631013), <abbr>p.</abbr> 228 (avec fac-similé du décret).</ref>

The island changed its name again in the 19th century: in 1806, under the [[First French Empire|First Empire]], General Decaen named it Île Bonaparte (after [[Napoleon]]), and in 1810 it became Île Bourbon again. It was eventually renamed Réunion after [[French Revolution of 1848|the fall of the July monarchy]] by a decree of the provisional government on 7 March 1848.<ref>''Nouveau recueil général de traités, conventions et autres transactions remarquables – Année 1848'', éd. Librairie de Dieterich, 1854, «Arrêté du gouvernement provisoire portant changement du nom de l'île Bourbon, Paris, 7 mars», <abbr>p.</abbr> 76</ref>

In accordance with the original spelling and the classical spelling and typographical rules,<ref>''Lexique des règles typographiques en usage à l’Imprimerie nationale'', Imprimerie nationale, 1990 ISBN 978-2-11-081075-5 ; réédition 2002 ISBN 978-2-7433-0482-9 ; réimpressions octobre 2007 et novembre 2008 ISBN 978-2-7433-0482-9, <abbr>p.</abbr> 90 et 93.</ref> "la Réunion" was written with a lower case in the article, but during the end of the 20th century the spelling "La Réunion" with a capital letter was developed in many writings to emphasize the integration of the article in the name. This last spelling corresponds to the recommendations of the ''Commission nationale de toponymie''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commission nationale de toponymie – Collectivités territoriales françaises |url=http://www.cnig.gouv.fr/upload/ressource/r1147273214.DOC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112114347/http://www.cnig.gouv.fr/upload/ressource/r1147273214.DOC |archive-date=12 November 2008}}</ref> and appears in the current [[Constitution of France|Constitution of the French Republic]] in articles 72-3 and 73.

== History ==
[[File:10-cent-1816-Isle-Bourbon.jpg|thumb|An 1816 ten-centime coin from Réunion, from when it was still called Isle de Bourbon]]

The island has been inhabited since the 17th century, when people from France and Madagascar settled there. Slavery was abolished on 20 December 1848 (a date celebrated yearly on the island), when the [[Second French Republic|Second Republic]] abolished slavery in the French colonies. However, [[indentured workers]] continued to be brought to Réunion from [[South India]], among other places. The island became an [[overseas department]] of France in 1946.

=== Early history ===
Not much is known of La Réunion's history prior to the arrival of the Portuguese in the early 16th century.<ref name="Allen09">{{Cite book |last=Allen |first=Richard B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVmqM7F-J4QC&pg=PA9 |title=Slaves, Freedmen and Indentured Laborers in Colonial Mauritius |date=14 October 1999 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521641258}}</ref> Arab traders were familiar with it by the name ''Dina Morgabin'', "Western Island" (likely {{langx|ar|دنية/دبية مغربي}} ''Daniyah<!--from root دني indicating low areas i.e. islands-->/Dībah<!--based on p 108 v 3 of Conrad Malte-Brun's Universal Geography
Or A Description of All Parts of the World, on a New Plan, According to the Great Natural Divisions of the Globe (1827)--> Maghribīy'').<ref name="Tabuteau13">{{Cite book |last=Tabuteau |first=Jacques |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BmgwAAAAYAAJ |title=Histoire de la justice dans les Mascareignes |publisher=Océan éditions |year=1987 |isbn=2-907064-00-2 |location=Paris |page=13 |language=fr |access-date=11 June 2011}}</ref>{{dubious|date=September 2024}} The island is possibly featured on a map from 1153 AD by [[Muhammad al-Idrisi|Al Sharif el-Edrisi]].{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The island might also have been visited by [[Swahili people|Swahili]] or [[Austronesian peoples|Austronesian]] (ancient Indonesian–Malaysian) sailors on their journey to the west from the [[Malay Archipelago]] to Madagascar.<ref name=Allen09/>

The first European discovery of the area was made around 1507 by Portuguese explorer [[Diogo Fernandes Pereira]], but the specifics are unclear. The uninhabited island might have been first sighted by the expedition led by [[Pedro Mascarenhas|Dom Pedro Mascarenhas]], who gave his name to the island group around Réunion, the [[Mascarene Islands|Mascarenes]].<ref name="Hydro269">{{Cite book |last=Moriarty |first=Cpt. H.A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-NmhAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA269 |title=Islands in the southern Indian Ocean westward of Longitude 80 degrees east, including Madagascar |publisher=[[United Kingdom Hydrographic Office|Great Britain Hydrographic Office]] |year=1891 |location=London |page=269 |oclc=416495775}}</ref> Réunion itself was dubbed ''Santa Apolónia'' after [[Saint Apollonia|a favourite saint]],<ref name=Tabuteau13/> which suggests that the date of the Portuguese discovery could have been 9 February, her feast day. [[Diogo Lopes de Sequeira]] is said to have landed on the islands of Réunion and [[Rodrigues]] in 1509.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

===Île Bourbon (1642–1793)===
[[File:MaheDeLaBourdonnais 2.JPG|thumb|Statue of [[Mahé de La Bourdonnais]] in [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]]]]

By the early 1600s, nominal Portuguese rule had left Santa Apolónia virtually untouched.<ref name=Hydro269/> The island was then occupied by France and administered from [[Port Louis]], Mauritius. Although the first French claims date from 1638, when {{ill|François Cauche|fr}} and Salomon Goubert visited in June 1638,<ref>{{Cite web |title=&#124; Journal de l'île de la Réunion |url=http://www.clicanoo.re/index.php?page=imprimer&id_article=97540 |access-date=12 March 2013 |publisher=Clicanoo.re |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222240/http://www.clicanoo.re/index.php?page=imprimer&id_article=97540 |url-status=live }}</ref> the island was officially claimed by {{ill|Jacques Pronis|fr}} of France in 1642, when he deported a dozen French [[mutiny|mutineers]] to the island from [[Madagascar]]. 
The convicts were returned to France several years later, and in 1649, the island was named Île Bourbon after the French royal [[House of Bourbon]]. Colonisation started in 1665, when the [[French East India Company]] sent the first settlers.<ref name=Hydro269/>

The French colonists developed a plantation economy founded on the cultivation of coffee and sugar by use of slave labor. 
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French colonisation, supplemented by importing Africans, Chinese and Indians as workers, contributed to ethnic diversity in the population. From 1690, most of the non-Europeans on the island were enslaved. 
Of the 80,000  slaves imported to Réunion and Mauritius between 1769 and 1793, 45% was provided by slave traders of the [[Sakalava people]] in North West Madagascar, who raided East Africa and the Comoros for slaves, and the rest was provided by Arab slave traders who bought slaves from [[Portuguese Mozambique]] and transported them to Réunion via Madagascar.<ref name="Slavery. 1980 p. 75-76">Asian and African Systems of Slavery. (1980). Storbritannien: University of California Press. p. 75-76</ref>

=== Revolutionary revolts (1793–1814) ===

On 19 March 1793, during the [[French Revolution]], the island's name was changed to "La Réunion" in homage to the meeting of the Federates of Marseille and the National Guards of Paris, during the march on the Tuileries Palace on 10 August 1792, and to erase the name of the Bourbon dynasty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Histoire - Assemblée nationale |url=https://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/decouvrir-l-assemblee/histoire |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=www2.assemblee-nationale.fr |archive-date=2 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702083705/https://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/decouvrir-l-assemblee/histoire |url-status=live }}</ref>

The abolition of [[slavery]] voted by the [[National Convention]] on 4 February 1794, was rejected by La Réunion, as well as by Île de France (Mauritius). A delegation accompanied by military forces, charged with imposing the liberation of slaves, arrived on the island of Bourbon on 18 June 1796, only to be immediately expelled without mercy. There followed a period of unrest and challenges to the power of the [[metropolis]], which no longer had any authority over the two islands. The First Consul of the Republic, [[Napoleon Bonaparte]], maintained slavery there, which was never abolished in practice, with the law of 20 May 1802. On 26 September 1806, the island was renamed Île Bonaparte and found itself in the front line of the Franco-British conflict for the control of the Indian Ocean.

Following climatic catastrophes of 1806-1807 (cyclones, floods), coffee cultivation declined rapidly and was replaced by [[sugar cane]], whose demand in France increased, due to France's recent loss of [[Saint-Domingue]], and soon of the Île-de-France (Mauritius). Because of its growth cycle, sugarcane is not affected by cyclones.

During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the island was invaded by British forces and its governor, General Sainte-Suzanne, was forced to capitulate on 9 July 1810. The island then came under [[British Empire|British rule]] and was under British occupation until the end of the Napoleonic period. The old name of Île Bourbon was restored in 1810.

=== Colony of Bourbon, then Réunion (1814–1946) ===

Bourbon Island was returned to the French under the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)|Treaty of Paris]] of 1814. The slave trade openly operated in the colony after French rule was restored, and despite international condemnation Bourbon Island imported 2,000 slaves every month during the 1820s, mostly from the [[Swahili coast]] or Quelimane in Portuguese Mozambique.<ref name="Slavery. 1980 p. 75-76"/> In 1841, Edmond Albius' discovery of hand-pollination of [[vanilla]] flowers enabled the island to soon become the world's leading vanilla producer. The cultivation of [[geranium]], whose essence is widely used in perfumery, also took off. From 1838 to 1841, Rear-Admiral [[Anne Chrétien Louis de Hell]] was governor of the island. A profound change of society and mentality linked to the events of the last ten years led the governor to present three emancipation projects to the Colonial Council.

On 9 June 1848, after the arrival of news of the [[French Revolution of 1848]] from Europe, governor {{Interlanguage link|Joseph Graëb|fr|Joseph Graëb}} announced the proclamation of the French Republic in [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]], and on that same day the island was definitely renamed "Réunion", the name it had already held between 1793 and 1806. The establishment of the Republic was met with coldness and distrust by the white plantocracy due to the professed abolitionism of the new Republican authorities in Paris. On 18 October 1848, the new [[Commissioner of the Republic]] [[Joseph Napoléon Sébastien Sarda Garriga]], sent from Paris to replace Graëb, announced in Saint-Denis the [[Slavery in France#End of slavery in France|abolition of slavery]] in Réunion, effective on 20 December 1848 (December 20 has been an official holiday in Réunion since then). Louis Henri Hubert Delisle became its first Creole governor on 8 August 1852, and remained in this position until 8 January 1858.

After abolition, many foreign workers came as [[indentured worker]]s. Slavery was replaced by a system of contract labor known as ''engagés'', which lasted from 1848 until 1864.<ref name="Slavery. 1980 p. 75-77">Asian and African Systems of Slavery. (1980). Storbritannien: University of California Press. p. 75-77</ref> In practice, an illegal slave trade was conducted in which slaves were acquired from Portuguese Mozambique and [[Zanzibar]] and then trafficked to Réunion via the [[Slavery in the Comoros|Comoros slave trade]]. They were officially called ''engagés'' to avoid the anti-slavery British [[blockade of Africa]].<ref name="Slavery. 1980 p. 75-77"/>

The opening of the [[Suez Canal]] in 1869 reduced the importance of the island as a stopover on the [[East Indies]] trade route <ref name=":2" /> and caused a shift in commercial traffic away from the island. Europe increasingly turned to sugar beet to meet its sugar needs. Despite the development policy of the local authorities and the recourse to compromise, the economic crisis became evident from the 1870s onwards. However, this economic depression did not prevent the modernization of the island, with the development of the road network, the creation of the railroad and the construction of the artificial harbor of the Pointe des Galets. These major construction projects offered a welcome alternative for agricultural workers.

[[File:Fete des travailleurs indiens.jpg|thumb|[[Hindu]] festival, 19th century]]
During [[World War II]], Réunion was under the control of [[Vichy France]] until 30 November 1942, when [[Free France|Free French]] forces disembarked from the destroyed [[French destroyer Léopard|''Léopard'']] and [[Liberation of La Réunion|liberated the colony]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=VTiDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT97 Chris Murray: ''Unknown Conflicts of the Second World War – Forgotten Fronts'', London/New York (NY): Routledge 2019, p. 97.]</ref>

=== Modern history (1946–) ===

La Réunion became a ''[[overseas department|département d'outre-mer]]'' (overseas [[Departments of France|département]]) of France on 19 March 1946. [[INSEE code|INSEE]] assigned to Réunion the department code <code>974</code>, and the region code <code>04</code> when regional councils were created in 1982 in France, including in existing overseas departments which also became overseas regions.

Over about two decades in the late 20th century (1963–1982), 1,630 children from La Réunion were relocated to rural areas of [[metropolitan France]], particularly to [[Creuse]], ostensibly for education and work opportunities. That program was led by influential [[Gaullist]] politician [[Michel Debré]], who was an MP for La Réunion at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sabado |first1=Elsa |title=Quand Debré envoyait des enfants réunionnais dans la Creuse repeupler la France: le cinquantenaire oublié |url=https://www.slate.fr/story/81217/pupilles-reunion-creuse |access-date=22 October 2023 |work=Slate |date=17 December 2013}}</ref> Many of these children were abused or disadvantaged by the families with whom they were placed. Known as the [[The Children of Creuse|Children of Creuse]], they and their fate came to light in 2002 when one of them, Jean-Jacques Martial, filed suit against the French state for kidnapping and deportation of a minor.<ref name="Martial2003">{{Cite book |last=Martial |first=Jean-Jacques |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nYEMAQAAMAAJ |title=Une enfance volée |publisher=Les Quatre Chemins |year=2003 |isbn=978-2-84784-110-7 |page=113 |access-date=13 September 2012}}</ref> Other similar lawsuits were filed over the following years, but all were dismissed by French courts and finally by the [[European Court of Human Rights]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Géraldine Marcon |date=29 January 2014 |title=Chronologie: L'histoire des enfants réunionnais déplacés en métropole |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/societe/chronologie-l-histoire-des-enfants-reunionnais-deplaces-en-metropole-1391019290 |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=ici, par France Bleu et France 3 |language=fr |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312082148/https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/societe/chronologie-l-histoire-des-enfants-reunionnais-deplaces-en-metropole-1391019290 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2005 and 2006, La Réunion was hit by a crippling epidemic of [[chikungunya]], a disease spread by mosquitoes. According to the [[BBC News]], 255,000 people on La Réunion had contracted the disease as of 26 April 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 February 2006 |title=Island disease hits 50,000 people |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4674376.stm |access-date=18 August 2007 |archive-date=28 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328014505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4674376.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The neighbouring islands of Mauritius and Madagascar also suffered epidemics of this disease during the same year.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Beesoon |first1=Sanjay |last2=Funkhouser |first2=Ellen |last3=Kotea |first3=Navaratnam |last4=Spielman |first4=Andrew |last5=Robich |first5=Rebecca M. |year=2008 |title=Chikungunya Fever, Mauritius, 2006 |journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=337–338 |doi=10.3201/eid1402.071024 |pmc=2630048 |pmid=18258136}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 March 2006 |title=Madagascar hit by mosquito virus |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4777530.stm |access-date=18 August 2007 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213214745/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4777530.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> A few cases also appeared in mainland France, carried by people travelling by airline. The French government of [[Dominique de Villepin]] sent an emergency aid package worth €36&nbsp;million and deployed about 500 troops in an effort to eradicate mosquitoes on the island.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

== Politics ==
{{Main article|Politics of Réunion}}
{{Further|Elections in Réunion}}
[[File:EU OCT and OMR map en.png|thumb|upright=1.4|right|Map of the European Union (pre [[Brexit]] on 31 January 2020) in the world, with overseas countries and territories and outermost regions]]
La Réunion sends seven deputies to the [[National Assembly of France|French National Assembly]] and three senators to the [[Senate of France|Senate]].

=== Status ===
Réunion is an [[Overseas departments and regions of France|overseas department and region of France]] (known in French as a ''département et région d'outre-mer'', DROM) governed by article 73 of the [[Constitution of France]], under which the laws and regulations are applicable as of right, as in metropolitan France.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Collectivités d'Outre-mer de l'article 73 de la Constitution (Guadeloupe, Guyane, Martinique, La Réunion, Mayotte) |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Droit-francais/Guide-de-legistique/III.-Redaction-des-textes/3.6.-Application-et-applicabilite-des-textes-outre-mer/3.6.4.-Collectivites-d-Outre-mer-de-l-article-73-de-la-Constitution-Guadeloupe-Guyane-Martinique-La-Reunion-Mayotte |access-date=28 June 2021 |website=legifrance.gouv.fr |archive-date=2 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702024039/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Droit-francais/Guide-de-legistique/III.-Redaction-des-textes/3.6.-Application-et-applicabilite-des-textes-outre-mer/3.6.4.-Collectivites-d-Outre-mer-de-l-article-73-de-la-Constitution-Guadeloupe-Guyane-Martinique-La-Reunion-Mayotte |url-status=live }}</ref>

Thus, Réunion has a regional council and a departmental council. These territorial entities have the same general powers as the departments and regions of metropolitan France, albeit with some adaptations. Article 73 of the constitution provides for the possibility of replacing the region and the department by a single territorial entity, but, unlike [[French Guiana]] or [[Martinique]], there are currently no plans to do so. Unlike the other DROMs, the constitution explicitly excludes Réunion from the possibility of receiving authorization from Parliament to set certain rules itself, either by law or by the national executive.<ref name=":0" /> The state is represented in Réunion by a [[prefect]]. The territory is divided into four districts (Saint-Benoît, Saint-Denis, Saint-Paul and Saint-Pierre). Réunion has 24 municipalities organized into 5 agglomeration communities. From the point of view of the [[European Union]], Réunion is considered an "outermost region.”

=== Geopolitics ===
The positioning of La Réunion Island has given it a more or less important strategic role depending on the period.
[[File:Bâtiment-Palais-Source.JPG|300px|thumb|Palais de la Source, seat of the [[Departmental Council of Réunion]]]]
Already at the time of the [[Portuguese discovery of the sea route to India|India Route]] or ''Route des Indes,'' Réunion was a French possession located between [[Cape Town]] and the Indian trading posts, although far from the [[Mozambique Channel]]. Île de Bourbon (its name under the [[Ancien Régime]]) was not, however, the preferred position for trade and military. Governor Labourdonnais claimed that Île de France (Mauritius) was a land of opportunity, thanks to its topography and the presence of two natural harbours. He intended Île de Bourbon to be a depot or an emergency base for Île de France.<ref>Guy Dupont, Condé-sur-Noireau, L'Harmattan, juin 1990, 759 <abbr>p.</abbr> ISBN 2-7384-0715-3 <abbr>p.</abbr> 27</ref>

The opening of the [[Suez Canal]] diverted much of the maritime traffic from the southern Indian Ocean and reduced the strategic importance of the island. This decline is confirmed by the importance given to Madagascar, which was later colonized.<ref name=":2">Raoul LUCAS et Mario SERVIABLE, C.R.I <abbr>p.</abbr> 26</ref>

Today, the island, the seat of a [[Military|defense]] and security zone, is the headquarters of the [[French Armed Forces]] of the Southern Indian Ocean Zone (FAZSOI), which brings together French Army units stationed in La Réunion and Mayotte. Réunion is also a base for the so-called [[Frenchelon]] [[signal intelligence]] system, whose infrastructure includes a mobile listening and automatic search unit. Saint-Pierre is also the headquarters of the mostly uninhabited [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]] (''Terres australes et antarctiques françaises'', TAAF). Because of France's possession of Réunion, France is a member of the [[Indian Ocean Commission]], which also includes the [[Comoros]], [[Madagascar]], [[Mauritius]] and the [[Seychelles]].

== Administrative divisions ==
{{Main article|Arrondissements of the Réunion department|Cantons of the Réunion department|Communes of the Réunion department}}
Administratively, La Réunion is divided into 24&nbsp;[[communes of France|''communes'']] (municipalities) grouped into four [[arrondissements of France|''arrondissements'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Département de La Réunion (974) |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/departement/974-la-reunion |access-date=18 November 2024 |publisher=[[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]] }}</ref> It is also subdivided into 25&nbsp;[[cantons of France|cantons]], meaningful only for electoral purposes at the departmental or regional level. It is a French overseas department, hence a French overseas region. The low number of ''communes'', compared with French metropolitan departments of similar size and population, is unique: most of its ''communes'' encompass several localities, sometimes separated by significant distances.

=== Municipalities (''communes'') ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population (2019)<ref name="pop2019">[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011060/dep974.pdf Populations légales 2019: 974 La Réunion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412084212/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011060/dep974.pdf |date=12 April 2022 }}, INSEE</ref>
!Coat of arms
!Arrondissement
!Map
|-
|[[Les Avirons]]
|26.27
|11,440
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr Les Avirons (La Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Les Avirons 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Bras-Panon]]
|88.55
|13,057
|[[File:Blason Ville Fr Bras-Panon (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Benoît|Saint-Benoît]]
|[[File:Locator map of Bras-Panon 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Cilaos]]
|84.4
|5,538
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr Cilaos (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Cilaos 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Entre-Deux]]
|66.83
|6,927
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr Entre-Deux (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Entre-Deux 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[L'Étang-Salé]]
|38.65
|14,059
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr Étang-Salé (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of L’Étang-Salé 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Petite-Île]]
|33.93
|12,395
|[[File:Blason ville Fr Petite-Ile (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Petite-Île 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[La Plaine-des-Palmistes]]
|83.19
|6,626
|
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Benoît|Saint-Benoît]]
|[[File:Locator map of La Plaine-des-Palmistes 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Le Port, Réunion|Le Port]]
|16.62
|32,977
|[[File:LOGO LE PORT 2016.jpg|frameless|40x40px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Paul|Saint-Paul]]
|[[File:Locator map of Le Port 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[La Possession]]
|118.35
|32,985
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr La Possession (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Paul|Saint-Paul]]
|[[File:Locator map of La Possession 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-André, Réunion|Saint-André]]
|53.07
|56,902
|
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Benoît|Saint-Benoît]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-André 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Benoît, Réunion|Saint-Benoît]]
|229.61
|37,036
|
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Benoît|Saint-Benoît]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Benoît 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]]
|142.79
|153,810
|[[File:Blason St-Denis Réunion DOM.svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Denis 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Joseph, Réunion|Saint-Joseph]]
|178.5
|37,918
|[[File:Ville de Saint-Joseph (Réunion).png|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Joseph 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Leu, Réunion|Saint-Leu]]
|118.37
|34,586
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr Saint-Leu (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Paul|Saint-Paul]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Leu 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Louis, Réunion|Saint-Louis]]
|98.9
|53,120
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr Saint-Louis (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Louis - Réunion 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Paul, Réunion|Saint-Paul]]
|241.28
|103,208
|[[File:Blason ville fr Saint-Paul (La Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Paul|Saint-Paul]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Paul 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Philippe]]
|153.94
|5,198
|
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Philippe 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|95.99
|84,982
|[[File:Blason St-Pierre Réunion DOM.svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Saint-Pierre 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Sainte-Marie, Réunion|Sainte-Marie]]
|87.21
|34,061
|[[File:Blason ville DomFr Sainte-Marie (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]]
|[[File:Locator map of Sainte-Marie 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Sainte-Rose, Réunion|Sainte-Rose]]
|177.6
|6,345
|
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Benoît|Saint-Benoît]]
|[[File:Locator map of Sainte-Rose - Réunion 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Sainte-Suzanne, Réunion|Sainte-Suzanne]]
|58.84
|24,065
|
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]]
|[[File:Locator map of Sainte-Suzanne 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Salazie]]
|103.82
|7,136
|[[File:Blason DomFr Salazie (Réunion).svg|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Benoît|Saint-Benoît]]
|[[File:Locator map of Salazie 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Le Tampon]]
|165.43
|79,824
|[[File:Ville du Tampon (Réunion).png|frameless|44x44px]]
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]
|[[File:Locator map of Le Tampon 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Les Trois-Bassins]]
|42.58
|7,015
|
|[[Arrondissement of Saint-Paul|Saint-Paul]]
|[[File:Locator map of Les Trois-Bassins 2018.png|frameless|50x50px]]
|}
[[File:Tribunal-grande-instance-Saint-Denis.JPG|300px|thumb|The High Court (Tribunal de grande instance) in Saint-Denis, Réunion.]]
The ''communes'' voluntarily grouped themselves into five groups for cooperating in some domains, apart from the four ''arrondissements'' to which they belong for purposes of national laws and executive regulation. After some changes in their composition, name and status, all of them operate with the status of [[Agglomeration communities in France|agglomeration communities]], and apply their own local taxation (in addition to national, regional, departmental, and municipal taxes) and have an autonomous budget decided by the assembly representing all member communes. This budget is also partly funded by the state, the region, the department, and the [[European Union]] for some development and investment programs. Every ''commune'' in Réunion is now a member of such an intercommunality, with its own taxation, to which member communes have delegated their authority in various areas.

== Foreign relations ==
Although diplomacy, military, and French government matters are handled by Paris, La Réunion is a member of [[La Francophonie]], the [[Indian Ocean Commission]], the [[International Trade Union Confederation]], the [[Universal Postal Union]], the [[Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa]], and the [[World Federation of Trade Unions]] in its own right.

== Defence ==
The [[French Armed Forces]] are responsible for the defence of the department. These forces also contribute to the defence of other French territories in the region, including [[Mayotte]] and the [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]. A total of some 2,000 French troops are deployed in the region, mostly in La Réunion centred on the [[2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment]]. Two [[CASA/IPTN CN-235|CASA CN 235]] aircraft, forming air detachment 181 and drawn from the 50th Air Transport squadron, provide a modest air transport and surveillance capability.<ref name="sudindien">{{Cite web |title=Forces armées dans la Zone-sud de l'océan Indien |trans-title=Armed Forces in the South Indian Ocean Zone |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/forces-prepositionnees/forces-souverainete/forces-armees-zone-sud-locean-indien |access-date=6 December 2022 |publisher=Ministère des Armées |language=fr |archive-date=24 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124082331/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/forces-prepositionnees/forces-souverainete/forces-armees-zone-sud-locean-indien |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morcos |first=Pierre |date=1 April 2021 |title=France: A Bridge between Europe and the Indo-Pacific? |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/france-bridge-between-europe-and-indo-pacific |access-date=6 December 2022 |publisher=Center for Strategic & International Studies |archive-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201165342/https://www.csis.org/analysis/france-bridge-between-europe-and-indo-pacific |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, the [[French Air Force]] demonstrated a capacity to reinforce the territory by deploying two [[Dassault Rafale|Rafale]] fighter aircraft, supported by an [[Airbus A330 MRTT|A330 MRTT Phénix]] tanker, from France to Réunion for a regional exercise.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2022 |title=French Rafales visit Reunion |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/french-rafales-visit-reunion/ |access-date=6 December 2022 |website=DefenceWeb |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114123636/https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/french-rafales-visit-reunion/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The French naval presence includes two {{sclass|Floréal|frigate}}s, {{ship|French frigate|Floréal||2}} and {{ship|French frigate|Nivôse||2}}, the icebreaker {{ship||L'Astrolabe|2016 icebreaker|2}}, the patrol and support ship [[D'Entrecasteaux-class patrol ship|''Champlain'']] and the coast guard vessel ''Le Malin''. The [[French Naval Aviation|naval aviation element]] includes a [[Eurocopter AS565 Panther]] helicopter from Flottille 36F able to embark on the ''Floréal''-class frigates as required.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2023 |title=FAZSOI - Entraînement mutuel paille-en-queue 23.1 aux abords des côtes réunionnaises |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/fazsoi-entrainement-mutuel-paille-queue-231-aux-abords-cotes-reunionnaises |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=DefenceWeb |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202184434/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/fazsoi-entrainement-mutuel-paille-queue-231-aux-abords-cotes-reunionnaises |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sudindien" /> In 2025, the helicopter is to be replaced by a [[Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin|AS 365N Dauphin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/grand-angle-zoom-sur-le-panther-l-helicoptere-de-la-marine-nationale-1498946.html |title=GRAND ANGLE. Zoom sur le Panther, l'hélicoptère de la Marine Nationale |work=franceinfo |last=Veron |first=Cynthia |language=fr |date=21 June 2024 |access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> By 2025, ''Le Malin'' is to be replaced by ''Auguste Techer'', a vessel of the new [[Patrouilleur Outre-mer|''Félix Éboué'' class]] of patrol vessels.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-troisieme-patrouilleur-d-outre-mer-en-phase-d-armement-a-flot |title=Le troisième patrouilleur d'outre-mer en phase d'armement à flot |work=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=fr |date=12 January 2024 |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> The French Navy will further reinforce its offshore patrol capabilities in the region by deploying a second vessel of the class (''Félix Éboué'') to Réunion by 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lagneau |first=Laurent |date=13 July 2024 |title=Océan Indien : Des drones Reaper pourront être ponctuellement déployés à La Réunion |url=https://www.opex360.com/2024/07/13/ocean-indien-des-drones-reaper-pourront-etre-ponctuellement-deployes-a-la-reunion/ |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Zone militaire}}</ref><ref name="NavalNews2021">{{Cite web |last=Manaranche |first=Martin |date=29 September 2021 |title=French Navy's New POM OPVs Take Shape At Socarenam Shipyard |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/09/french-navys-new-pom-opvs-take-shape-at-socarenam-shipyard/ |access-date=16 September 2022 |website=Naval News |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011212522/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/09/french-navys-new-pom-opvs-take-shape-at-socarenam-shipyard/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

About 800 [[National Gendarmerie]], including one mobile squadron and one high mountain platoon, are also stationed in Réunion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 December 2022 |title=Les DOM, défi pour la République, chance pour la France, 100 propositions pour fonder l'avenir (volume 2, comptes rendus des auditions et des déplacements de la mission) |trans-title=The overseas departments, challenge for the Republic, opportunity for France, 100 proposals to found the future (volume 2, reports of the hearings and trips of the mission) |url=https://www.senat.fr/rap/r08-519-2/r08-519-229.html |access-date=6 December 2022 |publisher=[[Senate (France)|Sénat]] |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107113353/https://www.senat.fr/rap/r08-519-2/r08-519-229.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Maritime Gendarmerie]] has also operated the patrol boat [[Vedette côtière de surveillance maritime|''Verdon'']] in the territory<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vedette Côtière de Surveillance Maritime (VCSM) Boats |url=https://www.homelandsecurity-technology.com/projects/vedette-cotiere-de-surveillance-maritime-boats/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207152543/https://www.homelandsecurity-technology.com/projects/vedette-cotiere-de-surveillance-maritime-boats/ |archive-date=7 December 2021 |access-date=28 August 2022 |publisher=Homelandsecurity Technology}}</ref> (though she was reported forward deployed in Mayotte as of 2022).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forces armées dans la Zone-sud de l'océan Indien |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/forces-prepositionnees/forces-souverainete/forces-armees-zone-sud-locean-indien |access-date=26 December 2022 |publisher=Ministère des Armées |archive-date=24 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124082331/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/forces-prepositionnees/forces-souverainete/forces-armees-zone-sud-locean-indien |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main article|Geography of Réunion}}
{{Réunion location map}}

The island is {{cvt|63|km|mi}} long; {{cvt|45|km|mi}} wide; and covers {{cvt|2512|km2|mi2}}. It is above a [[hotspot (geology)|hotspot]] in the Earth's crust. The [[Piton de la Fournaise]], a [[shield volcano]] on the eastern end of La Réunion, rises more than {{cvt|2631|m|ft}} [[above mean sea level|above sea level]] and is sometimes called a sister to Hawaiian volcanoes because of the similarity of climate and volcanic nature. It has erupted more than 100&nbsp;times since 1640, and is under constant monitoring, most recently erupting on 2 July 2023.<ref>[https://www.clicanoo.re/Societe/Article/2020/05/20/Le-cone-volcanique-de-leruption-du-confinement-baptise-Piton-Voulvoul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607184709/https://www.clicanoo.re/Societe/Article/2020/05/20/Le-cone-volcanique-de-leruption-du-confinement-baptise-Piton-Voulvoul|date=7 June 2020}} Le Piton du Confinement on clicanoo.com</ref> During another eruption in April 2007, the lava flow was estimated at {{cvt|3000000|m3|yd3}} per day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staudacher |first=Thomas |date=7 April 2007 |title=Reunion sees 'colossal' volcano eruption, but population safe |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070407/wl_afp/francereunionvolcano |access-date=18 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070409021223/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070407/wl_afp/francereunionvolcano |archive-date=9 April 2007}} (Web archive)</ref> The hotspot that fuels Piton de la Fournaise also created the islands of [[Mauritius]] and [[Rodrigues (island)|Rodrigues]].

The [[Piton des Neiges]] volcano, the highest point on the island at {{cvt|3070|m|ft}} above sea level, is northwest of the Piton de la Fournaise. Collapsed calderas and canyons are south west of the mountain. While the Piton de la Fournaise is one of Earth's most active volcanoes, the Piton des Neiges is dormant. Its name is French for "peak of snows", but snowfall on the summit of the mountain is rare. The slopes of both volcanoes are heavily forested. Cultivated land and cities like the capital city of [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]] are concentrated on the surrounding coastal lowlands. Offshore, part of the west coast is characterised by a [[Reunion Island's coral reef|coral reef system]]. Réunion also has three [[caldera]]s: the [[Cirque de Salazie]], the [[Cilaos|Cirque de Cilaos]] and the [[Cirque de Mafate]]. The last is accessible only on foot or by helicopter.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Ppalmistes2.jpg|[[Plaine-des-Palmistes]]
File:La réunion 0700a.jpg|[[Mafate|Cirque de Mafate]] is a caldera formed from the collapse of the large [[shield volcano]] the ''[[Piton des Neiges]]''.
File:Reunion 21.12S 55.51E.jpg|Réunion from space (NASA image): The three cirques, forming a kind of three-leafed clover shape, are visible in the central north west of the image. Piton de la Fournaise is in the south east.
File:Volcanreunion.jpg|Lava flow emitted in 2005 by the [[Piton de la Fournaise]]
File:L'Ermitage beach, Réunion.jpg|"Plage de l'Ermitage" beach
</gallery>

=== Geology and relief ===
La Réunion is a volcanic island born some three million years ago<ref name=":1" /> with the emergence of the Piton des Neiges volcano. It has an altitude of {{cvt|3070.5|m}}, the highest peak in the Mascarene Islands and the Indian Ocean. The eastern part of the island is constituted by the Piton de la Fournaise, a much more recent volcano (500,000 years old) which is considered one of the most active on the planet. The emerged part of the island represents only a small percentage (about 3%) of the underwater mountain that forms it.

In addition to volcanism, the [[relief]] of the island is very uneven due to active erosion. The center shelters three vast cirques dug by erosion (Salazie, Mafate and Cilaos) and the slopes of the island are furrowed by numerous rivers digging gullies, estimated at least 600,<ref>Guy Dupont, Condé-sur-Noireau, L'Harmattan, juin 1990, 759 <abbr>p.</abbr> ISBN 2-7384-0715-3 <abbr>p.</abbr> 100.</ref> generally deep and whose torrents cut the sides of the mountains up to several hundreds of meters deep.

The ancient massif of the Piton des Neiges is separated from the [[massif]] of La Fournaise by a gap formed by the plaine des Palmistes and the plaine des Cafres, a passageway between the east and the south of the island. Apart from the plains, the coastal areas are generally the flattest regions, especially in the north and west of the island. The coastline of the wild south is however steeper.

Between the coastal fringe and the Hauts, there is a steep transitional zone whose gradient varies considerably before arriving at the ridge lines setting the cirques or the Enclos, the [[caldera]] of the Piton de la Fournaise.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Climat Réunion.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Köppen climate classification]] map of Réunion]]
La Réunion is characterized by a humid [[tropical climate]], tempered by the oceanic influence of the [[trade wind]]s blowing from east to west. The climate of Réunion is characterized by its great variability, mainly due to the imposing relief of the island, which is at the origin of numerous microclimates.

As a result, there are strong disparities in rainfall between the windward coast in the east and the leeward coast in the west, and in temperature between the warmer coastal areas and the relatively cooler highland areas.

In La Réunion there are two distinct seasons, defined by the rainfall regime:

* a rainy season from January to March, during which most of the year's rain falls;
* a dry season from May to November. However, in the eastern part and in the foothills of the [[volcano]], rainfall can be significant even in the dry season;

April and December are transition months, sometimes very rainy but also very dry.

Pointe des Trois Bassins, located on the coast of the commune of Trois-Bassins (west), is the driest season, with a normal annual precipitation of {{cvt|447.7|mm}}, while Le Baril, in Saint-Philippe (southeast), is the wettest coastal season, with a normal annual precipitation of {{cvt|4,256.2|mm}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLIMAT LA REUNION - Informations, normales et statistiques sur le climat à La Réunion |url=http://www.meteofrance.re/climat/reunion/normales |access-date=2 July 2021 |website=meteofrance.re |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729111918/http://www.meteofrance.re/climat/reunion/normales |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, the wettest station is in the highlands of Sainte-Rose, with an average annual rainfall of almost {{cvt|11,000|mm}}, making it one of the wettest places in the world.

Temperatures in La Réunion are characterized by their great mildness throughout the year. In fact, the thermal amplitude from one season to another is relatively small (rarely exceeding 10&nbsp;°C or 18&nbsp;°F), although it is perceptible:

* In the warm season (November to April): average minimums usually range between {{cvt|21 and 24|°C}}, and average maximums between {{cvt|28 and 31|°C}}, on the coast. At {{cvt|1,000|m}}, average minimums fluctuate between {{cvt|10 and 14|°C}} and average maximums between {{cvt|21 and 24|°C}};
* In the cold season (May to October): temperatures at sea level vary from {{cvt|17 to 20|°C}} for average minimums and from {{cvt|26 to 28|°C}} for average maximums. At {{cvt|1,000|m}}, average minimums range from {{cvt|8 to 10|°C}} and average maximums from {{cvt|17 to 21|°C}}.

In mountain towns, such as [[Cilaos]] or La Plaine-des-Palmistes, average temperatures range between {{cvt|12 and 22|°C}}. The highest parts of the habitat and the natural areas at altitude may suffer some winter frosts. Snow was even observed on the Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise in 2003 and 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2006 |title=Exceptionnel : Il a neigé au volcan |url=https://www.ipreunion.com/neige-sur-la-reunion/reportage/2006/10/10/exceptionnel,il-a-neige-au-volcan,2804.html |access-date=2 July 2021 |website=Imaz Press Réunion : l'actualité de la Réunion en photos |language=fr |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709201214/https://www.ipreunion.com/neige-sur-la-reunion/reportage/2006/10/10/exceptionnel,il-a-neige-au-volcan,2804.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The warmest day on record set on 30 January 2022. In the cold pole of the La Réunion (all-time low {{cvt|-5|°C|disp=or}}) Gite de Bellecombe ({{cvt|2245|m|disp=or}} [[AMSL]]) with a maximum temperature of {{cvt|25.4|°C}} on 30 January. It beats the previous record of {{cvt|25.1|°C}} set in 2021 and 2021.

While a growing number of islands (including "non-sovereign" islands) in the world are concerned about the effects of climate change, the island of Réunion was chosen (along with [[Gran Canaria]] in Spain) as an example for a case study of an affected ultra-European peripheral territory, for a study on the adequacy of urban and regional planning tools to the needs and characteristics of these islands (including land use and population density and the regulatory framework).

This work confirmed that urban and peri-urban land use pressures are high, and that adaptation strategies are incompletely integrated into land use planning. According to the Institute of Island Studies, there is a dysfunction: "island planning tools often do not take [[climate change adaptation]] into account and there is too much top-down management in the decision-making process".<ref>{{Cite web |title=European island outermost regions and climate change adaptation: a new role for regional planning |url=https://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/default/files/ISJRibalayguaetalEuropeanOutermostRegionsClimateChangeAdaptation.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/default/files/ISJRibalayguaetalEuropeanOutermostRegionsClimateChangeAdaptation.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022}}</ref> Réunion holds the world records for the most rainfall in 12-, 24-, 72- and 96-hour periods,<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization: Global Weather & Climate Extremes |url=http://wmo.asu.edu/ |website=Arizona State University |access-date=30 July 2015 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208085718/http://wmo.asu.edu/ |url-status=live }}</ref> including {{convert|1.8|m}} in 24 hours.<ref name="24hrrain">{{Cite web |title=World: Greatest Twenty-four-Hour (1 Day) Rainfall |url=https://wmo.asu.edu/content/world-greatest-twenty-four-hour-1-day-rainfall |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=Arizona State University |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706021721/https://wmo.asu.edu/content/world-greatest-twenty-four-hour-1-day-rainfall |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Beaches ===
La Réunion hosts many tropical and unique beaches. They are often equipped with barbecues, amenities, and parking spaces. Hermitage Beach is the most extensive and best-preserved lagoon in Réunion Island and a popular snorkelling location.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lagon de l'Hermitage |url=https://www.snorkeling-report.com/spot/snorkeling-ermitage-reunion-island/ |access-date=24 July 2020 |website=Snorkeling Report |archive-date=5 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605105358/https://www.snorkeling-report.com/spot/snorkeling-ermitage-reunion-island/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a white sand beach lined with casuarina trees under which the locals often organise picnics. La Plage des Brisants is a well-known surfing spot, with many athletic and leisurely activities taking place. Each November, a film festival is also organised in La Plage des Brisants. Movies are projected on a large screen in front of a crowd. Beaches at Boucan {{not a typo|Canot}} are surrounded by a stretch of restaurants that particularly cater to tourists. L'Étang-Salé on the west coast is a particularly unique beach as it is covered in black sand consisting of tiny fragments of basalt. This occurs when lava contacts water, it cools rapidly and shatters into the sand and fragmented debris of various size. Much of the debris is small enough to be considered sand. Grand Anse is a tropical white-sand beach lined with coconut trees in the south of Réunion, with a rock pool built for swimmers, a [[pétanque]] playground, and a picnic area. Le Vieux Port in Saint Philippe is a green-sand beach consisting of tiny olivine crystals, formed by the 2007 lava flow, making it one of the youngest beaches on Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 September 2013 |title=The beaches of Réunion Island |url=http://www.indian-ocean.com/the-beaches-of-reunion-island/ |access-date=15 November 2016 |website=Snorkeling Report |archive-date=15 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115194313/http://www.indian-ocean.com/the-beaches-of-reunion-island/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Grand Anse Beach Reunion Island.jpg|Sunset at Grand Anse beach Réunion Island
File:Lunch on the beach.jpg|Restaurants along Boucan {{not a typo|Canot}} beach<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2016 |title=Lunch at Plage de Boucan Canot |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/45945287@N08/30266925554/ |access-date=15 November 2016 |website=Flickr |archive-date=5 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105205907/https://www.flickr.com/photos/45945287@N08/30266925554/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Manapany, La Réunion.jpg|Manapany beach rock pool
File:Étang-salé-les-bains-plage03.jpg|L'Étang-Salé Beach - a black sand beach from volcanic basalt
File:La Reunion lagoon dsc00240.jpg|L’Ermitage les Bains lagoon in front of Saint Paul, and its pass through the coral reef
</gallery>

== Environment ==
{{See also|Réunion National Park}}

=== Flora ===
The tropical and insular flora of La Réunion Island is characterized by its diversity, a very high rate of [[endemism]] and a very specific structure. The flora of La Réunion presents a great diversity of natural environments and species (up to 40 tree species/ha, compared to a temperate forest which has an average of 5/ha). This diversity is even more remarkable, but fragile, as it differs according to the [[Environmental protection|environment]] (coastal, low, medium and high mountain).

La Réunion has a very high rate of [[endemism|endemic]] species, with more than 850 native plants (of natural origin and present before the arrival of humans), of which 232 are endemic to the La Réunion (only present on the island), as well as numerous species endemic to the [[Mascarene Islands|Mascarene]] archipelago. Finally, the flora of La Réunion is distinguished from that of equatorial tropical forests by the low height and density of the canopy, probably due to adaptation to cyclones, and by a very specific vegetation, in particular a strong presence of epiphytic plants (growing on other plants), such as [[Orchidaceae|orchids]], [[Bromeliaceae|bromeliads]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2021|reason=With one exception, bromeliads are native to the Americas. The website cited below seems to simply be giving examples of epiphytes, not saying with any authority that these types are found on Réunion.}} and cacti{{Citation needed|date=December 2021|reason=Cacti are native to the Americas. The website cited below seems to simply be giving examples of epiphytes, not saying with any authority that these types are found on Réunion.}}, but also ferns, [[lichen]]s and [[moss]]es.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flore de La Réunion |url=https://habiter-la-reunion.re/la-flore-de-la-reunion/ |access-date=3 July 2021 |website=Habiter La Réunion |language=fr-FR |archive-date=31 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731080141/https://habiter-la-reunion.re/la-flore-de-la-reunion/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Wildlife ===
{{Main article|Wildlife of Réunion}}{{See also|List of extinct animals of Réunion}}

Like its prodigious floral diversity, Réunion is home to a variety of birds such as the [[white-tailed tropicbird]] ({{langx|fr|link=no|paille en queue}}).<ref>{{in lang|fr}} L'Île de la Réunion.com: [http://www.liledelareunion.com/Fr/Oiseaux/paille.php Le paille en queue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129153214/http://www.liledelareunion.com/Fr/Oiseaux/paille.php |date=29 November 2010 }}</ref> Many of these birds species are endemic to the island, such as the [[Réunion harrier]] and [[Réunion cuckooshrike]]. Its largest land animal is the [[panther chameleon]], ''Furcifer pardalis.'' Much of the west coast is ringed by coral reef which harbours, among other animals, [[sea urchin]]s, [[conger eel]]s, and [[parrot fish]]. [[Sea turtle]]s and dolphins also inhabit the coastal waters. Humpback whales migrate north to the island from the Antarctic waters annually during the Southern Hemisphere winter (June–September) to breed and feed, and can be routinely observed from the shores of Réunion during this season.

At least 19 species formerly [[endemic]] to Réunion have become [[extinct]] following human colonisation. For example, the [[Réunion giant tortoise]] became extinct after being slaughtered in vast numbers by sailors and settlers of the island.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:FurciferPardalisMale.JPG|A [[panther chameleon]]
File:Pomacanthus imperator juvénile.JPG|A juvenile [[Emperor angelfish]]
File:Idole des Maures (Zanclus cornutus).jpg|A [[Moorish idol]]
File:White-tailed tropicbird.jpg|A white-tailed [[Tropicbird]]
File:Eretmochelys imbricata 01.jpg|A [[Hawksbill sea turtle]]
File:Humpback whale bis.jpeg|A [[Humpback whale]] off [[Saint-Gilles, Réunion|St-Gilles]]
</gallery>

=== Marine biodiversity ===
Despite the small area of coral reefs, the marine [[biodiversity]] of La Réunion is comparable to that of other islands in the area, which has earned the [[Mascarene Islands|Mascarene]] archipelago its inclusion among the top ten global biodiversity "hotspots".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biodiversité marine Réunion, Hot spot |url=http://vieoceane.free.fr/EEDD/biodiv.htm |access-date=4 July 2021 |website=vieoceane.free.fr |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801030148/http://vieoceane.free.fr/EEDD/biodiv.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Réunion's coral reefs, both flat and barrier, are dominated mainly by fast-growing branching coral species of the genus Acropora (family Acroporidae), which provide shelter and food for many tropical species.

Recent scientific research in Réunion Island indicates that there are more than 190 species of corals, more than 1,300 species of mollusks, more than 500 species of crustaceans,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crusta |url=http://crustiesfroverseas.free.fr/iles.php?ile=Reunion |access-date=4 July 2021 |website=crustiesfroverseas.free.fr |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801030205/http://crustiesfroverseas.free.fr/iles.php?ile=Reunion |url-status=live }}</ref> more than 130 species of echinoderms and more than 1,000 species of fish.<ref>Ronald Fricke, Thierry Mulochau, Patrick Durville, Pascale Chabanet, Emmanuel Tessier et Yves Letourneur, « &nbsp;», ''Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde A, Neue Serie'', <abbr>vol.</abbr> 2, 2009, <abbr>p.</abbr> 1–168</ref>

La Réunion's deeper waters are home to dolphins, killer whales, humpback whales, blue sharks and a variety of shark species, including whale sharks, coral sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, blacktip sharks and great white sharks. Several species of sea turtles live and breed here.

Between 2010 and 2017, 23 shark attacks occurred in the waters of La Réunion, of which nine were fatal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilibert |first=Laurence |date=1 March 2018 |title=Crise requin: Les causes scientifiques sous les projecteurs de la revue "Nature" |url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Crise-requin-Les-causes-scientifiques-sous-les-projecteurs-de-la-revue-Nature_a124908.html |via=ZINFO974 |access-date=20 August 2018 |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821031708/https://www.zinfos974.com/Crise-requin-Les-causes-scientifiques-sous-les-projecteurs-de-la-revue-Nature_a124908.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2013, the [[Prefect of Réunion]] Michel Lalande announced a ban on swimming, surfing, and bodyboarding off more than half of the coast. Lalande also said 45 [[bull shark]]s and 45 [[tiger shark]]s would be [[cull]]ed, in addition to the 20 already killed as part of scientific research into the illness [[ciguatera]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2013 |title=Big Read: Reunion Island beset by shark controversy |work=[[News Corp Australia]] |url=http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/big-read-reunion-island-beset-by-shark-controversy/story-e6frfq80-1226707678565 |access-date=23 September 2013 |archive-date=2 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902215804/http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/big-read-reunion-island-beset-by-shark-controversy/story-e6frfq80-1226707678565 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Migrations of [[humpback whale]]s contributed to a boom of [[whale watching]] industries on Réunion, and watching rules have been governed by the [[:fr:Observatoire Marin de la Réunion|OMAR (Observatoire Marin de la Réunion)]] and [[:fr:Globice|Globice (Groupe local d'observation et d'identification des cétacés)]].

=== Coral reef ===
[[File:20140915-1002 - Réunion - 0814.jpg|thumb|302x302px|L'Ermitage Lagoon]]
Because the island is relatively young (3&nbsp;million years old),<ref name=":1">Emmanuel Tessier, Saint Denis, Thèse de doctorat sous la direction de Pascale Chabanet et Catherine Aliaume, 2005, 254 <abbr>p</abbr></ref> the [[Coral|coral formations]] (8,000 years old) are not well developed and occupy a small area compared to older islands, mostly in the form of fringing reefs.<ref name=":1" />

These formations define shallow "lagoons" (rather "reef depressions"), the largest of which is no more than {{cvt|200|m|ft}} wide and about {{cvt|1-2|m|ft}} deep.<ref>''Étude comparative des récifs coralliens de l’archipel des Mascareignes'', station marine d'Endoume et Centre d’Océanographie, Marseille, et Centre Universitaire de La Réunion, Saint Denis de La Réunion, in : Guézé P. (dir.) ''Biologie marine et exploitation des ressources de l'Océan Indien occidental'', Paris : ORSTOM, 1976, (47), <abbr>p.</abbr> 153-177.</ref> These lagoons, which form a discontinuous reef belt {{cvt|25|km}} long (i.e. 12% of the island's coastline) with a total area of {{cvt|12|sqkm}}, are located on the west and southwest coast of the island. The most important are those of L'Ermitage (St-Gilles), St-Leu, L'Étang-Salé and St-Pierre.

=== Management ===
Since 2010, La Réunion is home to a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] that covers about 40% of the island's area and coincides with the central zone of the La [[Réunion National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pitons, cirques and remparts of Réunion Island |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1317 |access-date=30 July 2015 |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |archive-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801233425/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1317/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The island is part of the [[Mascarene forests]] terrestrial ecoregion.<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{Cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |display-authors=1 |year=2017 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |pages=534–545 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |issn=0006-3568 |pmc=5451287 |pmid=28608869 |doi-access=free |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad}}</ref>

==== Gardening and Bourbon roses ====
The first members of the [[Bourbon rose|"Bourbon" group]] of garden roses originated on this island (then still Île Bourbon, hence the name) from a spontaneous [[Hybridisation (biology)|hybridisation]] between [[Damask rose]]s and ''[[Rosa chinensis]]'',<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=ADUMITRESEI |first1=LIDIA |last2=STĂNESCU |first2=IRINA |year=2009 |title=Theoretical Considerations upon the origin and nomenclature of the present rose cultivars |journal=Journal of Plant Development |volume=16}}</ref> which had been brought there by the colonists. The first Bourbon roses were discovered on the island in 1817.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Roses: Bourbon Roses |url=http://www.rose.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/History-of-Roses-Bourbon-Roses2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.rose.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/History-of-Roses-Bourbon-Roses2.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |website=American Rose Society}}</ref>

=== Threats to the environment ===
Among coastal [[ecosystems]], coral reefs are among the richest in [[biodiversity]], but they are also the most fragile.<ref>C. Gabrié, « &nbsp;», ''Initiative Française pour les récifs coralliens (Ifrecor)'', 1998, <abbr>p.</abbr> 136</ref>

Nearly one-third of fish [[species]] were already considered threatened or vulnerable in 2009, with coral degradation in many places. The causes of this state of affairs are pollution, [[overfishing]] and poaching, as well as anthropogenic pressure, especially linked to the densification of urbanization in coastal areas and the discharge of sewage.<ref>Ronald Fricke, Thierry Mulochau, Patrick Durville, Pascale Chabanet, Emmanuel Tessier et Yves Letourneur, « &nbsp;», ''Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde A, Neue Serie'', <abbr>vol.</abbr> 2, 2009,</ref>

15 species living on La Réunion were included in the Red List published by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN).<ref>{{Cite web |title=UICN.fr - Liste Rouge Réunion |url=https://uicn.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Tableaux_Liste_rouge_faune_de_La_Reunion.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://uicn.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Tableaux_Liste_rouge_faune_de_La_Reunion.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:Manapany.jpg|thumb|[[Manapany]] in 2004]]
{{Main article|Demographics of Réunion}}
[[File:Cilaos.JPG|thumb|[[Cilaos]] town, high in the Cirque (2003)]]
[[File:Inauguration par les élus d'un panneau d'information conçu par les élèves de l'AIre marine éducative de Saint-Leu.jpg|thumb|People in Réunion (2018)]]
[[File:Temple-tamoul-saint-denis.JPG|thumb|
Shri Maha Kalikambal Temple in [[Saint-Denis, Réunion]]]]

=== Historical population ===
{{Historical populations
| title= Historical population
| percentages = pagr
| align = none
| cols = 2
| graph-pos = bottom
| footnote = Local population estimates and censuses up to 1946.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Résultats statistiques du recensement général de la population des départements d'outre-mer effectué le 9 octobre 1961. Réunion |date=1966 |publisher=[[INSEE]] |page=15 |chapter=Evolution de la population du département depuis 1646 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j_aNvJBZ-vUC&q=1654}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark%3A/12148/cb32696174t/date%26rk%3D21459%3B2 |title=Annuaire de l'île de la Réunion |date=1875–1925 |access-date=10 February 2022 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210221503/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark%3A/12148/cb32696174t/date%26rk%3D21459%3B2 |url-status=live }}</ref> INSEE censuses between 1954 and 2021.<ref name="1954-1999">{{Cite book |last=Temporal |first=Franck |title=La population réunionaise. Analyse démographique |date=2007 |publisher=IRD Editions |isbn=978-2-7099-1629-5 |editor-last=Sandron |editor-first=Frédéric |page=129 |chapter=Les Migrations : formes et implications sur le marché du travail |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpJQpzh4aLQC&dq=population+la+r%C3%A9union+%22274370%22+1954+insee&pg=PA129}}</ref><ref name="pop" /> Last INSEE 2024 estimate.<ref name="pop" />
| 1654 |13
| 1670 |50
| 1686 |269
| 1707 |734
| 1713 |1171
| 1717 |2000
| 1777 |35469
| 1804 |65152
| 1826 |87100
| 1837 |110000
| 1853 |152600
| 1872 |182676
| 1877 | 180295   
| 1881 | 169493   
| 1887 | 163881   
| 1892 | 171713   
| 1897 | 173192   
| 1902 | 173315   
| 1907 | 177677  
| 1911 | 173822
| 1921 | 173190
| 1926 | 186837   
| 1931 | 197933   
| 1936 | 208258   
| 1941 | 220955
| 1946 | 241667   
| 1954.5 | 274370  
| 1961.8 | 349282  
| 1967.8 |416525
| 1974.8 |476675
| 1982.2 |515814
| 1990.2 |597823
| 1999.2 |706300
| 2010 |821136
| 2015 |850727
| 2021 |871157
| 2024 |885700
}}

=== Major metropolitan areas ===
The most populous [[Functional area (France)|metropolitan area]] is [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]], which covers six communes (Saint-Denis, [[Sainte-Marie, Réunion|Sainte-Marie]], [[La Possession]], [[Sainte-Suzanne, Réunion|Sainte-Suzanne]], [[Saint-André, Réunion|Saint-André]], and [[Bras-Panon]]) in the north of the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 de Saint-Denis (9D1)|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/aire-attraction-des-villes-2020/9D1-saint-denis |access-date=18 November 2024 |publisher=INSEE }}</ref> The three largest metropolitan areas are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistiques locales: France par aire d'attraction des villes, Population municipale (historique depuis 1876) 2021 |url=https://statistiques-locales.insee.fr/#bbox=-116420,5228720,245067,148203&c=indicator&i=pop_depuis_1876.pop&s=2021&t=A01&view=map13 |access-date=2024-10-05 |publisher=[[INSEE]] }}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Urban unit
! Population (2021)
|-
| [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 319,141
|-
| [[Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]-[[Le Tampon]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 224,549
|-
| [[Saint-Paul, Réunion|Saint-Paul]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 172,302
|}

===Migrations and ethnic groups===
{{See also|Cafres|Malbars|Chinois (Réunion)|Zarabes|Zoreilles|Réunionnais of Indian origin}}

At the 2019 census, 82.4% of the inhabitants of La Réunion were born on the island, 11.7% were born in [[Metropolitan France]], 1.0% were born in [[Mayotte]], 0.3% were born in the rest of [[Overseas France]], and 4.6% were born in foreign countries (46% of them children of French expatriates and settlers born in foreign countries, such as children of Réunionese settlers born in Madagascar during colonial times; the other 54% immigrants, i.e. people born in foreign countries with no French nationality at birth).<ref name="immig_2">{{Cite web |title=Individus localisés à la région en 2019 - Recensement de la population - Fichiers détail |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/6456040?sommaire=6456104 |access-date=9 February 2023 |language=fr |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210005632/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/6456040?sommaire=6456104 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In recent decades, the number of Metropolitan Frenchmen living on the La Réunion has increased markedly: only 5,664 natives of Metropolitan France lived in Réunion at the 1967 census, but their numbers were multiplied by more than 6 in 23 years, reaching 37,516 at the 1990 census, and then nearly tripled in the next 29 years, reaching 100,493 at the 2019 census.<ref name="IRD">{{Cite book |last=Temporal |first=Franck |title=La population réunionaise. Analyse démographique |date=2007 |publisher=IRD Editions |isbn=978-2-7099-1629-5 |editor-last=Sandron |editor-first=Frédéric |page=134 |chapter=Les Migrations : formes et implications sur le marché du travail |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_wQCwAAQBAJ&dq=Tableau+4+Population+de+la+R%C3%A9union+selon+le+lieu+de+naissance+aux+recensements+134&pg=PA134}}</ref><ref name="immig_1">{{Cite web |title=Données harmonisées des recensements de la population 1968–2018 |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/6023301?sommaire=2414232 |access-date=11 February 2022 |language=fr |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204104939/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/6023301?sommaire=2414232 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="immig_2" /> Native Réunionese, meanwhile, have emigrated increasingly to Metropolitan France: the number of natives of La Réunion living in Metropolitan France rose from 16,548 at the 1968 census to 92,354 at the 1990 census to 130,662 at the 2019 census, by which date 15.7% of the natives of Réunion lived outside of Réunion.<ref name="immig_1" /><ref name="immig_2" />

La Réunion has experienced extremely little immigration of foreigners since World War Two, and by the 2019 census only 2.5% of the inhabitants of Réunion were immigrants. This is in contrast to the situation that prevailed from the middle of the 19th century until World War Two when many migrants from India (especially from [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Gujarat]]),<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 December 2016 |title=French island La Réunion is home to several Gujaratis |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/french-island-la-reunion-is-home-to-several-gujaratis/articleshow/55988312.cms |access-date=11 February 2022 |archive-date=17 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517122617/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/French-island-La-Reunion-is-home-to-several-Gujaratis/articleshow/55988312.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Eastern Asia (particularly China), and Africa came to La Réunion to work in the plantation economy. Their descendants have now become French citizens.

{|  style="width:720px; border:2px solid #999;" rules="all" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"
|+ style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em"| Place of birth of residents of Réunion<br /><small>(at the 1967, 1982, 1990, 1999, 2008, 2013, and 2019 censuses)</small>
| align=center| Census ||align=center| Born in<br />Réunion || align=center | Born in<br />[[Metropolitan France|Metropolitan&nbsp;France]] || align=center | Born in<br />[[Mayotte]] || align=center | Born in the<br />rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;[[Overseas France|Overseas&nbsp;France]] || align=center | Born&nbsp;in&nbsp;foreign<br />countries&nbsp;with&nbsp;French<br />citizenship&nbsp;at&nbsp;birth<sup>1</sup> || align=center | Immigrants<sup>2</sup>
|-
| align=center| 2019 || align=center | 82.4% || align=center | 11.7% || align=center | 1.0% || align=center | 0.3% || align=center | 2.1% || align=center | 2.5%
|-
| align=center| 2013 || align=center | 83.7% || align=center | 11.1% || align=center | 0.7% || align=center | 0.3% || align=center | 2.2% || align=center | 2.0%
|-
| align=center| 2008 || align=center | 84.6% || align=center | 10.3% || align=center | 0.8% || align=center | 0.2% || align=center | 2.4% || align=center | 1.8%
|-
| align=center| 1999 || align=center | 86.1% || align=center | 9.1% || align=center | 0.9% || align=center | 0.4% || align=center | 2.0% || align=center | 1.4%
|-
| align=center| 1990 || align=center | 90.4% || align=center | 6.3%    || align=center | 0.2% || align=center | 0.1% || align=center | 1.9% || align=center | 1.0%
|-
| align=center| 1982 || align=center | 93.1% || align=center | 4.1%    || style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"| 2.8%
|-
| align=center| 1967 || align=center | 96.8% || align=center | 1.4%    || style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"| 1.8%
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="7"| <sup>1</sup><small>Persons born abroad of French parents, such as [[Pieds-Noirs]] and children of French [[expatriate]]s.</small><br /><sup>2</sup><small>An immigrant is by French definition a person born in a foreign country and who did not have French citizenship at birth. An immigrant may have acquired French citizenship since moving to France, but is still listed as an immigrant in French statistics. On the other hand, persons born in France with foreign citizenship (the children of immigrants) are not listed as immigrants.</small>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="7"| Source: IRD,<ref name="IRD" /> INSEE<ref name="immig_1" /><ref name="immig_2" />
|}

Ethnic groups present include people of [[African diaspora|African]], [[Réunionnais of Indian origin|Indian]], [[White people|European]], [[Malagasy people|Malagasy]] and [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] origin. Local names for these are Yabs, [[Cafres]], [[Réunionnais of Indian origin|Malbars]] and [[Chinois (Réunion)|Chinois]]. All of the ethnic groups on the island are immigrant populations that have come to Réunion from Europe, Asia and Africa over the centuries. These populations have mixed from the earliest days of the island's colonial history (the first settlers married women from Madagascar and of Indo-Portuguese heritage), resulting in a majority population of [[mixed race]] and of "Creole" culture.

It is not known exactly how many people of each ethnicity live in La Réunion, since the French census does not ask questions about ethnic origin,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Oppenheimer |first=David B. |date=20 August 2008 |title=SSRN-Why France Needs to Collect Data on Racial Identity – In a French Way by David Oppenheimer |journal=[[Hastings International and Comparative Law Review]] |volume=31 |ssrn=1236362 |via=Papers.ssrn.com |number=2}}</ref> which applies in La Réunion because it is a part of France in accordance with the [[Constitution of France|1958 constitution]]. The extent of racial mixing on the island also makes ethnic estimates difficult. According to estimates, [[European diaspora|Whites]] make up roughly one quarter of the population,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Holm |first=John A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PcD7p9y3EIcC&pg=PA394 |title=Pidgins and Creoles: References survey |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1989 |isbn=0-521-35940-6 |page=394}}</ref> [[Malbars]] make up more than 25% of the population and people of Chinese ancestry form roughly 3%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Réunion |url=http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter6.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821114441/http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter6.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2010 |website=The Indian Diaspora}}</ref> The percentages for those of African and mixed-race origins vary widely in estimates. Also, some people of [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]] ancestry live on the island, though they are very few in number.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clicanoo |title=La Réunion Métisse |url=http://www.clicanoo.com/index.php?id_article=97657&page=article |access-date=21 December 2009 |archive-date=20 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120052810/http://www.clicanoo.com/index.php?id_article=97657&page=article |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="advan">{{Cite journal |last1=Tarnus |first1=Evelyne |last2=Bourdon |first2=Emmanuel |year=2006 |title=Anthropometric evaluations of body composition of undergraduate students at the University of La Réunion |journal=Advances in Physiology Education |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=248–253 |doi=10.1152/advan.00069.2005 |pmid=17108254 |s2cid=19474655}}</ref><ref name="religiousintelligence">{{Cite web |title=Country Profile: Reunion (Department of Reunion) |url=http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=151 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013201658/http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=151 |archive-date=13 October 2007 |access-date=13 October 2007}}</ref>

[[Tamil people|Tamils]] are the largest group among the Indian community.<ref name="indiandiaspora.nic.in">{{Cite web |title=NRI |url=http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter6.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821114441/http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter6.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2010 |access-date=16 April 2010}}</ref> The island's community of Muslims from northwestern India, particularly [[Gujarat]], and elsewhere is commonly referred to as ''[[zarabes]]''.

[[Réunionnais Creole people|Creoles]] (a name given to those born on the island, regardless of ethnic origins) make up the majority of the population. Groups that are not Creole include people recently arrived from Metropolitan France (known as ''[[zoreilles]]'') and those from [[Mayotte]] and the [[Comoros]] as well as immigrants from [[Madagascar]] and [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] refugees.

=== Religion ===
{{See also|Hinduism in Réunion|Islam in Réunion}}
[[File:Cilaos kirche.jpg|thumb|Catholic church of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges in [[Cilaos]]]]
{{Pie chart
|thumb=right
|caption=Religious affiliation (2000 censuses)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reunion &#124; History, Location, Map, Population, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Reunion |access-date=5 June 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413163151/https://www.britannica.com/place/Reunion |url-status=live }}</ref>
|label1=[[Christianity]]
|value1=84.9
|color1=Purple
|label2=[[Hinduism]]
|value2=10
|color2=DarkOrange
|label3=[[Islam]]
|value3=2.15
|color3=Green
|label4=No religion
|value4=1.7
|color4=Grey
|label6=Other
|value6=1.25
|color6=Black}}

The predominant religion is Christianity. The [[Catholic Church]] has a single  jurisdiction, the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion|Diocese of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion]]. Religious Intelligence estimates Christians to be 84.9% of the population, followed by [[Hindu]]s (10%) and [[Muslim]]s (2.15%).<ref name="religiousintelligence" /> [[Chinese folk religion]] and [[Buddhism]] are also represented.

Most large towns have a [[Hindu temple]] and a mosque.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tsqua-r16i4C&pg=PA412 |title=Peoples of Africa: Réunion-Somalia |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7614-7166-0 |pages=412–}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{See also|Réunionnais literature}}
Réunionese culture is a blend (''métissage'') of European, African, [[Réunionnais of Indian origin|Indian]], [[Chinois (Réunion)|Chinese]] and insular traditions. The most widely spoken language, [[Réunion Creole]], [[French-based creole languages|derives from French]].

=== Language ===
French is the sole official language of Réunion. Though not official, [[Réunion Creole]] is widely spoken alongside French. Creole is commonly used for informal purposes, whereas the official language for administrative purposes, as well as education, is French.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethnologue report (language code:rcf) |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=rcf |access-date=16 April 2010 |publisher=Ethnologue.com |archive-date=18 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218041810/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=rcf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other languages spoken on La Réunion include: [[Comorian language|Comorian]] varieties (especially [[Shimaore]]) and [[Malagasy language|Malagasy]], by recent immigrants from [[Mayotte]] and Madagascar; [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]], [[Hakka language|Hakka]] and [[Yue Chinese|Cantonese]] by members of the Chinese community; [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], mostly [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] and [[Hindi]]; and [[Arabic]], spoken by a small community of Muslims. These languages are generally spoken by immigrants, as those born on the island tend to use French and Creole.

[[Yue Chinese|Cantonese]], [[Arabic]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] are offered as optional languages in some schools.<ref name="indiandiaspora.nic.in" />

===Music===
{{Main article|Music of Réunion}}
{{See also|Sega music|Maloya}}

There are two music genres which originated in La Réunion: sega, which originated earlier and is also traditional in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles; and maloya, which originated in the 19th century and is only found in Réunion. Every 20 December, the inhabitants of La Réunion celebrate La Réunion [[Freedom]] Day. This celebration, also known as the Fête des Cafres or "Fet' Kaf'", commemorates the proclamation of the abolition of [[slavery]] by the Second Republic (France) in 1848. The term "cafre" refers to the Africans of the "Cafrerie" (a part of southern Africa). It derives from the [[Afrikaans]] word "kaffer", which is similar to the [[Languages of the United States|American slang]] "[[nigger]]" or "nègre", originating in colonial France.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La France coloniale |url=https://casls.uoregon.edu/mosaic/FR_mosaic/africa/FR_U4A3/LaFranceColoniale.html |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=casls.uoregon.edu |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222162722/https://casls.uoregon.edu/mosaic/FR_mosaic/africa/FR_U4A3/LaFranceColoniale.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Today, in the 21st century, Reunionese celebrate with joy the end of a long period of oppression. Cafres, Malagasy, Comorians, Indians, Yabs, Z'oreilles and metropolitans gather in the streets dancing to the rhythm of the sega and the maloya, the two great musical genres of Réunion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Au rythme de la musique créole à La Réunion |url=https://www.reunion.fr/decouvrez/au-rythme-de-la-musique-creole-a-la-reunion/ |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=Île de la Réunion Tourisme |language=fr-FR |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625121227/https://www.reunion.fr/decouvrez/au-rythme-de-la-musique-creole-a-la-reunion/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Numerous concerts are organized, most of them free, as well as costume parades and dance shows such as [[Merengue music|merengue]], for example.

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main article|Cuisine of Réunion}}
Always accompanied by rice, the most common dishes are carry (sometimes spelled cari), a local version of Indian [[curry]], [[Wiktionary:rougail|rougail]] and civets (stews). Curry is made with a base of onion, garlic and [[spices]] such as turmeric (called "safran péi" on the island),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Curcuma |url=https://www.reunion.fr/decouvrez/gastronomie/les-epices-et-les-senteurs/le-curcuma/ |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=Île de la Réunion Tourisme |language=fr-FR |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190646/https://www.reunion.fr/decouvrez/gastronomie/les-epices-et-les-senteurs/le-curcuma/ |url-status=live }}</ref> on which fish, meat and eggs are fried; tomato is then added. Dishes can also be flavoured with ginger; the peel of a [[Kaffir lime|combava]] is often prized. [[Chop suey]] (with rice, not pasta) and other Asian dishes such as pork with pineapple<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sauté de porc à l'ananas très facile |url=https://www.marmiton.org/recettes/recette_saute-de-porc-a-l-ananas-tres-facile_66650.aspx |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=Marmiton |language=fr |archive-date=16 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716035406/https://www.marmiton.org/recettes/recette_saute-de-porc-a-l-ananas-tres-facile_66650.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Rougail Saucisse 04-07-07.jpg|alt=image representing the rougail saucisse|thumb|The rougail saucisse.]]

Some examples of popular réunionese dishes include:
*Achards (inspired by [[achaar]])
*Cabri massalé
*Cari poulet
*Rougail dakatine
*Rougail morue
*Rougail saucisse
*Bouchon

In general, there are few dishes without meat or fish, so there are few [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian options]]. One of them is chouchou chayote gratin. Otherwise, mainly poultry is consumed. One of the local specialties is tangue<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le civet de Tangue, par Pépé do Fé |url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Societe/Article/2018/02/19/Le-civet-de-Tangue-par-Pepe-do-Fe_515729 |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=Clicanoo.re |language=fr |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801030535/https://www.clicanoo.re/Societe/Article/2018/02/19/Le-civet-de-Tangue-par-Pepe-do-Fe_515729 |url-status=dead }}</ref> civet (of the hedgehog family).

===Sport===
[[Moraingy|Moringue]] is a popular combat/dance sport similar to [[capoeira]]. There are several famous Réunionese sportsmen and women like the [[Team handball|handballer]] [[Jackson Richardson]], as well as the karateka [[Lucie Ignace]]. La Réunion has a number of contributions to worldwide professional [[surfing]]. It has been home to notable pro surfers including [[Jeremy Flores]], [[Johanne Defay]] and [[Justine Mauvin]]. Famous break St Leu has been host to several world surfing championship competitions. Since 1992, Réunion has hosted a number of [[ultramarathons]] under the umbrella name of the [[Grand Raid]]. As of 2018, four different races compose the Grand Raid: the Diagonale des Fous, The Trail de Bourbon, the Mascareignes, and the Zembrocal Trail.<ref name="Reunion.FR17">{{Cite web |date=12 October 2017 |title=The Grand Raid: 25 years of madness! |url=https://en.reunion.fr/organize/news/the-grand-raid-25-years-of-madness |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820235137/https://en.reunion.fr/organize/news/the-grand-raid-25-years-of-madness |archive-date=20 August 2018 |access-date=20 August 2018 |website=La Réunion}}</ref> Annual [[sport of athletics|athletics]] ''Meeting de la Réunion'' is held at the [[Stade Paul Julius Bénard]] by the governing body ''Ligue Réunionnaise d'athlétisme''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Site officiel de la Ligue Réunionnaise d'Athlétisme |url=http://reunion.athle.com/ |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305100033/http://reunion.athle.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Football ====
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport. With more than 30,000 licensed players for a population exceeding 850,000 inhabitants, it remains the sport of choice for young people. Although the highest level of competition called the First Division of Réunion is equivalent to a division d'honneur in metropolitan France (DH), all the youngsters hope to play at the highest level one day.

This has been the case for players such as [[Laurent Robert]], [[Florent Sinama Pongolle|Florent Sinama-Pongolle]], [[Guillaume Hoarau]], [[Dimitri Payet]], [[Benoît Trémoulinas|Benoit Tremoulinas]], [[Melvine Malard]] (the only six Reunionese to have played for the French national team), [[Bertrand Robert]], [[Thomas Fontaine]], [[Ludovic Ajorque]], [[Fabrice Abriel]] (of La Réunion descent) and [[Wilfried Moimbe]] (of Réunion descent), to name but a few. The territory has its own team, the [[Réunion national football team]].

=== Architecture ===
{{See also|Creole garden}}[[File:Château-Lauratet.JPG|thumb|Château Lauratet.]]
Structurally, the local Creole house is said to be symmetrical.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tableau économique régional de La Réunion, Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques, 2007. |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/insee_regions/reunion/themes/dossiers/ter/ter2007_05_1_parc_logements.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.insee.fr/fr/insee_regions/reunion/themes/dossiers/ter/ter2007_05_1_parc_logements.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022}}</ref> In fact, in the absence of an architect, workers would draw a line on the ground and build two identical parts on each side, resulting in houses of essentially [[rectangular]] shape. The veranda is an important element of the house. It is an [[Terraced house|outdoor terrace]] built on the front of the house, as it allowed to show its richness to the street. A Creole garden completes the house. It is composed of local plants, found in the forest. There is usually a greenhouse with orchids, anthuriums and different types of ferns.

The Villa Déramond-Barre is a Creole architectural model of great heritage interest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 March 2016 |title=La Villa Déramond Barre |url=https://www.cartedelareunion.fr/listings/la-villa-deramond-barre |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=Carte de La Réunion |language=fr-FR |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724152152/https://www.cartedelareunion.fr/listings/la-villa-deramond-barre |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Traditions ===
Two forms of musical expression historically make up the folkloric tradition of Réunion Island. One, the sega, is a Creole variant of the [[quadrille]], the other, the maloya, like the American blues, comes from Africa, carried by the nostalgia and pain of slaves uprooted and deported from their homeland.

The sega, a disguised ballroom dance to the rhythm of traditional Western instruments (accordion, harmonica, guitar, etc.), is a testament to the fun of colonial society at the time. Today, it is still the typical ballroom dance of the island of Réunion and the Mascarene archipelago in general, along with the Mauritian sega and the [[Rhodesia]]n sega.

The slaves' maloya, a ritual dance full of melodies and gestures, was performed almost clandestinely at night around a bonfire; the few instruments that accompanied it were made of plants (bamboo, gourds, etc.).
[[File:Dipavali - la réunion.jpg|thumb|Dipavali Festival]]
Beyond their taste for this musical art form, the maloya troupes wanted to perpetuate the memory of the [[Slavery|slaves]], their suffering and their uprooting. Through sometimes controversial texts, they remind France of its slave-owning past and underline the damage that this colonial era did to human beings; in the course of the island's history, maloya artists and kabars (gatherings) were sometimes banned by the authorities.

With the institution of a public holiday to celebrate the [[Abolitionism|abolition]] of slavery (fête caf', 20 December), maloya has received official recognition; it is regularly played on public radio and many discotheques and dance parties programme it regularly; it is even enjoying a revival: groups have begun to make modern versions, styles and arrangements, such as maloggae and other electric maloya.

Some of Réunion Island's emblematic musical groups include: Groupe folklorique de La Réunion, Kalou Pilé, Baster, Ousanousava, Ziskakan, Pat'Jaune, [[Danyèl Waro]], Tisours, etc. We can also mention one of the greatest Maloya singers: Lo Rwa Kaf. Born in Sainte-Suzanne, he was one of the first to sing Maloya. When he died in 2004, many people were present at his funeral.

In 2008, the artist Brice Guilbert made a video clip entitled La Réunion. In this clip, we see him crossing all the [[landscape]]s of the island.

In the field of contemporary dance, we can mention the choreographer Pascal Montrouge, who directs the only company in France that has a double headquarters in Saint-Denis de La Réunion and Hyères, which reinforces the sense of his vision of identity. In 2007, the city of Saint-Denis de La Réunion entrusted him with the artistic direction of its Saint-Denis Danses festival.

The island is home to the regional [[Music school|conservatory]] of La Réunion, which has four teaching centres and was created in 1987 under the impetus of the then president of the region, Pierre Lagourgue. Today, although traditional dances are not forgotten in the conservatoires (which teach dance, music and theatre), the dances taught are classical dance, contemporary dance and Bharata natyam dance. These students regularly have the opportunity to dance with choreographers from Réunion such as Didier Boutiana cie "Konpani Soul city", Soraya Thomas cie "Morphose" or Éric Languet cie "Danse en l'R". These different local companies allow the inhabitants of Réunion to dance professionally.

Urban culture has also made its appearance, following the trends and influences of metropolitan France and the United States. Thus, hip-hop culture is developing, but also ragga dancehall, with KM David or Kaf Malbar being the figurehead of this new movement, influencing the young generation all over the island, with their songs spread by mp3 or internet. Many young artists are trying to "break through" in this music, whose industry is developing reasonably well, locally but also internationally, and has nothing to envy from the precursors of French [[dancehall]].

== Media ==
=== Broadcasting ===
Réunion has a local public television channel, [[Réseau Outre-Mer 1re|Réunion 1ère]], which now forms part of [[France Télévision]], and also receives [[France 2]], [[France 3]], [[France 4]], [[France 5]] and [[France 24]] from metropolitan France, as well as [[France Ô]], which shows programming from all of the [[Overseas departments and territories of France|overseas departments and territories]]. There are also two local private channels, Télé Kréol and Antenne Réunion.

It has a local public radio station, formerly Radio Réunion, but now known as Réunion 1ère, like its television counterpart. It also receives the [[Radio France]] networks [[France Inter]], [[France Musique]] and [[France Culture]]. The first private local radio station, Radio Freedom, was introduced in 1981. They broadcast daily content about weather and local services.
[[File:Plateau-Télé-Réunion-1-2512.JPG|thumb|The set of the television news of Télé Réunion]]

=== Newspapers ===
Two main newspapers:
*''[[Journal de l'île de La Réunion]]''
*''{{ill|Le Quotidien (Réunionese newspaper)|fr|Le Quotidien de La Réunion}}''

=== Cinema ===
Present on the island since 1896, is marked by its insularity and its geographical distance from [[metropolitan France]]. In the absence of the Centre national de la cinématographie (CNC), it has developed specific distribution and dissemination networks. Its landscapes first served as a natural backdrop for many film and television productions, and film events, such as festivals, multiplied there. Digital technology now facilitates the development of local productions, most of which reflect the particularities of a multicultural and multilingual society.

The Réunion Film festival (festival du film de La Réunion) was created in 2005 and is chaired by Fabienne Redt. The festival presented first and second feature films by French directors. The 10th and last edition took place in 2014 in partnership mainly with the TEAT Champ Fleuri (Saint-Denis) and the city of Saint-Paul.

In the Port, the International Film Festival of Africa and the La Réunion Islands (Festival international du film d'Afrique et des îles de La Réunion) was also held.

Among the existing film festivals is the Réunion Island Adventure Film Festival (13 editions), which awards prizes to adventure films.

In Saint-Philippe, the Festival Même pas peur, Réunion's international fantasy film festival, has been held since 2010.

In Saint-Pierre, there are two festivals: Écran jeunes (25th edition in 2019) and the Festival du Film Court de Saint-Pierre, directed by Armand Dauphin (3rd edition in 2019).

=== Film ===
*''[[Adama (film)|Adama]]'' (animated there)
*''[[Mississippi Mermaid]]'' (1969) (filmed there)

=== Blogs ===
*''Reunion Island Tourism blog'' (English/French tourism blog)
*''[[Visit Reunion (Instagram)|Visit Reunion]]'' (English language blog and Instagram page)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Réunion Island (@visitreunion) • Instagram photos and videos |url=https://www.instagram.com/visitreunion/ |access-date=15 April 2018 |website=instagram.com}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}}

=== Internet ===
The internet situation in Réunion was once marked by its [[Island|insularity]] and remoteness from mainland France, which caused some technological delays. Today, the trend has been reversed and the region has a relatively efficient internet connection and is one of the departments most connected by fibre optics in France.

Internet connection can be provided by ADSL (offered by four operators), fibre optic (three operators), or by cellular data on 4G and 5G networks (currently being tested in Saint-Denis).

Réunion domain names have the suffix [[.re]]. The La Réunion region has deployed a regional fibre-optic network for operators. This network is based partly on EDF's very [[high voltage]] cables - G@zelle network, partly on the region's own fibre and partly on Hertzian links for the most isolated areas. This network is managed by a public service company called La Réunion Numérique.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Réunion Numérique |url=http://www.lareunionnumerique.net/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625114306/http://www.lareunionnumerique.net/pages/accueil.php |archive-date=25 June 2018}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Main article|Economy of Réunion}}

[[File:LePortEst.JPG|thumb|The east dock of Réunion's main seaport in [[Le Port, Réunion|Le Port]] (2006)]]
[[File:Trieur de vanille - La Réunion.jpg|thumb|Man sorting [[Bourbon vanilla]] (2004)]]

In 2019, the GDP of Réunion at market exchange rates, not at [[purchasing power parity|PPP]], was estimated at 19.5&nbsp;billion [[euro]]s (US$21.8 bn) and the GDP per capita (also at market exchange rates) was 22,629 [[euro]]s (US$25,333),{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} the highest in sub-Saharan Africa,<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Economic Outlook Database: October 2021 |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/October/weo-report?c=614,638,616,748,618,624,622,626,628,632,636,634,662,642,643,734,644,646,648,652,656,654,664,666,668,674,676,678,684,688,728,692,694,714,716,722,718,724,199,733,738,742,746,754,698,&s=NGDPDPC,&sy=2019&ey=2026&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |access-date=23 March 2022 |archive-date=23 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323173227/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/October/weo-report?c=614,638,616,748,618,624,622,626,628,632,636,634,662,642,643,734,644,646,648,652,656,654,664,666,668,674,676,678,684,688,728,692,694,714,716,722,718,724,199,733,738,742,746,754,698,&s=NGDPDPC,&sy=2019&ey=2026&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> but only 61.7% of [[metropolitan France]]'s GDP per capita that year, and 73.5% of the metropolitan French regions outside the [[Île-de-France|Paris Region]].<ref name="GDP">{{Cite web |title=Produits intérieurs bruts régionaux et valeurs ajoutées régionales de 2000 à 2020 |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/5020211 |access-date=23 March 2022 |publisher=[[INSEE]] |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313044930/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/5020211 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Before the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|Global Financial Crisis of 2008]], the economy of La Réunion was in a process of catching up with the rest of France. From 1997 to 2007, the economy of La Réunion grew by an average of +4.6% per year in [[real versus nominal value (economics)|real terms]],<ref name="1996_2020">{{Cite web |title=Comptes économiques de La Réunion. Principaux indicateurs de 1996 à 2020 – base 2014. |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2386064 |access-date=23 March 2022 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407055152/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2386064 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the GDP per capita rose from 53.7% of metropolitan France's level in 2000 to 61.6% of metropolitan France in 2007.<ref name="GDP" /> The [[Great Recession]] that followed the financial crisis greatly affected La Réunion whose economy came to a standstill in 2008, then experienced two years of [[recession]] in 2009 and 2010, followed by three years of [[Economic stagnation|stagnation]] (2011-2013).<ref name="1996_2020" /> By 2013, the GDP per capita of Réunion had fallen back to 60.6% of metropolitan France's level.<ref name="GDP" />

Economic growth returned in 2014. The economy grew by an average of +2.9% per year in real terms from 2014 to 2017, and the GDP per capita of Réunion rose to 62.4% of metropolitan France's GDP per capita by 2017, its highest level ever.<ref name="GDP" /> The economy slowed down in 2018, growing at only +1.7% due in part to the [[yellow vests protests]] which paralyzed the Réunionese economy in the end of 2018, before recovering to +2.2% in 2019.<ref name="1996_2020" /> As a result of this slower growth since 2018, the GDP per capita of Réunion fell back slightly compared to metropolitan France's, standing at 61.7% of metropolitan France's level in 2019.<ref name="GDP" />

Réunion was affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, leading to a massive recession of -4.2% that year according to provisional estimates, the largest on record,<ref name="1996_2020" /> although less severe than in metropolitan France (-7.9% for metropolitan France in 2020).<ref name="GDP" />

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|+ style="margin-bottom: 0.5em"|Regional GDP of Réunion<br /><small>(in euros, current prices)</small>
! !! &nbsp;2000&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2007&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2013&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2014&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2015&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2016&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2017&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2018&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2019&nbsp;
|-
|align=center| Nominal GDP <small>(€ bn)</small>|| align=center| 9.55 || align=center| 15.17 || align=center| 16.53 || style="text-align:center;"|   16.97 || align=center|   17.55 || align=center| 18.07 || align=center| 18.56 || align=center| 19.00 || align=center| 19.51
|-    
|align=center| GDP per capita <small>(euros)</small> || align=center| 13,218 || align=center| 18,937 || align=center| 19,701 || style="text-align:center;"| 20,045 || align=center| 20,608 || align=center| 21,171 || align=center| 21,707 || align=center| 22,128 || align=center| 22,629
|-
|align=center| GDP per capita as a %<br />of [[Metropolitan France]]'s || align=center| 53.7% || align=center| 61.6% || align=center| 60.6% ||align=center| 61.0% || align=center| 61.5% || align=center| 62.4% || align=center| 62.4% || align=center| 62.0% || align=center| 61.7%
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center" | <small>Source: [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]].<ref name="GDP" /></small>
|}

Sugar was traditionally the chief agricultural product and export. Tourism is now an important source of income.<ref name="tourism La Reunion">{{Cite web |title=Insel La Réunion Reisen & Urlaub buchen &#124; Reiseveranstalter Elefant Tours |url=https://www.elefant-tours.de/reisen/la-reunion/ |website=Elefant Tours |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=2 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002162416/https://www.elefant-tours.de/reisen/la-reunion/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The island's remote location combined with its stable political alignment with Europe makes it a key location for satellite receiving stations<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEAS-OI, VIGISAT international success Réunion Island acquires an acquisition and processing system for high-resolution satellite images |url=http://www.vigisat.eu/web/en/63-news.php?item=71 |access-date=3 April 2016 |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427094741/http://www.vigisat.eu/web/en/63-news.php?item=71 |url-status=live }}</ref> and naval navigation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surveillance of maritime and terrestrial activities by radar |url=http://www.cls.fr/en/ground-segments-and-operations/surveillance-of-maritime-and-terrestrial-activities-by-radar/#fragment1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203011721/https://www.cls.fr/en/ground-segments-and-operations/surveillance-of-maritime-and-terrestrial-activities-by-radar/#fragment1 |archive-date=3 February 2019 |access-date=3 April 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

GDP sector composition in 2017 (contribution of each sector to the total [[gross value added]]):<ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Derniers résultats des comptes définitifs : 1996 à 2017 – base 2014. Activité des branches. |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2386064 |access-date=22 March 2022 |publisher=[[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]] |language=fr |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407055152/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2386064 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sector !! % of total GVA
|- style="background:#afa;"
|| Agriculture, forestry and fishing || 1.9%
{{collapsed infobox section begin|<small>Detail</small>}}
|-
| Agriculture and forestry || 1.4%
|-
| Fishing || 0.5%
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
|- style="background:#f2cee0;"
| Mining and quarrying || 0.0%
|- style="background:#f2cee0;"
| Manufacturing || 4.6%
{{collapsed infobox section begin|<small>Detail</small>}}
|-
| Food manufacturing<br /><small>(of which: sugar and rum)</small>|| 1.9%<br /><sub>(0.5%)</sub>
|-
| Petroleum and coal products manufacturing || 0.0%
|-
| Non-food and non-petroleum/coal manufacturing || 2.8%
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
|- style="background:#f2cee0;"
| Utilities || 1.6%
|- style="background:#f2cee0;"
| Construction || 5.8%
|- style="background:#b0e0e6;"
| Market services || 49.8%
{{collapsed infobox section begin|<small>Detail</small>}}
|-
| Wholesale and retail trade || 11.1%
|-
| Transportation and warehousing || 3.7%
|-
| Accommodation and food services || 1.9%
|-
| Information and communication || 3.3%
|-
| Finance and insurance || 4.5%
|-
| Real estate activities || 14.8%
|-
| Professional, scientific and technical services || 3.1%
|-
| Administrative and support services || 3.4%
|-
| Other (entertainment, repair, personal and laundry services)|| 4.0%
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
|- style="background:#b0e0e6;"
| Non-market services || 36.2%
{{collapsed infobox section begin|<small>Detail</small>}}
|-
| Public administration and defense || 10.9%
|-
| Education, health care, elderly care, child day-care|| 25.3%
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
|}

Unemployment is a major problem on Réunion, although the situation has improved markedly since the beginning of the 2000s: the unemployment rate, which stood above 30% from the early 1980s to the early 2000s, declined to 24.6% in 2007, then rebounded to 30.0% in 2011 due to the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|2008 global financial crisis]] and subsequent [[Great Recession]], but declined again after 2011, reaching 19.0% in 2023,<ref name="chomage">{{Cite web |title=Bilan économique 2023 - La Réunion - Chômage et politiques de l'emploi - Le taux d'emploi progresse, notamment en raison de la participation croissante des femmes au marché du travail  |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7935957?sommaire=7936570#graphique-figure4 |access-date=2024-10-05 |publisher=[[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]] }}</ref> its lowest level in 45 years.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Célimène |first1=Fred |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n2QkA7LOJC8C&pg=PA179 |title=De l'économie coloniale à l'économie mondialisée – Aspects multiples de la transition (XX<sup>e</sup> et XXI<sup>e</sup> siècles) |last2=Legris |first2=André |date=2011 |publisher=Publibook |isbn=978-2-7483-7225-0 |location=Paris |page=179}}</ref>

In 2021, 36.1% of the population lived below the poverty line (defined by [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]] as 60% of [[Metropolitan France]]'s median income; in 2021 the poverty line for a family of two parents and two young children was €2,423 (US$2,868) per month),<ref>{{Cite web |title=En 2021, le taux de pauvreté s'élève à 36 % à La Réunion  |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7767624#titre-bloc-1 |access-date=2024-10-05 |publisher=[[INSEE]] |language=fr}}</ref> a marked decrease compared to 2013 when 49% of the population lived below the poverty line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rapport annuel économique de La Réunion 2023 |url=https://www.iedom.fr/IMG/pdf/ra_final.pdf |access-date=2024-10-05 |page=12 |publisher=Institut d'émission des départements d'outre-mer |language=fr}}</ref>

[[Rum]] distillation contributes to the island's economy. A "[[List of French rums|Product of France]]", it is shipped to Europe for bottling, then shipped to consumers around the world.

[[Brasseries de Bourbon]] is the main brewery of the island, with [[Heineken N.V.|Heineken]] as shareholder.

[[File:Muséum d'Histoire naturelle - Saint-Denis-42.JPG|thumb|Façade of the Natural History Museum of Réunion Island in Saint-Denis]]

=== Tourism ===
{{main|Tourism in Réunion}}
Income from tourism is La Réunion primary economic resource, ahead of [[sugarcane]] production and processing, which has allowed the development of large Réunionese groups such as Quartier Français, Groupe Bourbon ex-Sucreries Bourbon, a large international company now listed on the [[stock exchange]], but based outside the island and which has abandoned the sugar sector for the off-shore maritime sector. With the reduction of subsidies, this culture is threatened. Therefore, the development of fishing in the [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands|French Southern Territories]] has been promoted.

The [[tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], particularly the commercial sector, is by far the most developed, and import distribution has taken off in the mid-1980s through affiliation and franchising agreements with metropolitan groups. The advent of franchised distribution has transformed the commercial apparatus, which historically was characterized by the geographic dispersion of small grocery-type units; the few "Chinese stores" still in operation are limited to mid-range towns and, as relics of a bygone era, have more of a tourist and educational appeal, even if they retain a convenience store function.

Despite its economic dynamism, the island is unable to absorb its significant unemployment, which is explained in particular by a very strong demographic growth. Many Réunioners are forced to move to metropolitan France for their studies or to find work.

[[File:Sugar cane from the chopper.jpg|thumb|Sugar cane on Réunion island]]

=== Agriculture ===
Agriculture in Réunion is an important activity in the island's economy:<ref>Notes sur La Réunion. Industrie sucrière, commerce, agriculture, immigration », dans ''Revue maritime et coloniale'', avril 1861, <abbr>p.</abbr> 350-362</ref> the agricultural territory covering 20% of the island's surface area employs 10% of the active population, generates 5% of the gross regional product and provides the island's main export. Formerly centered on coffee and [[clove]] cultivation, it has focused on sugar cane since the events of the early 19th century, namely the Great Avalanches and the seizure of Réunion by the [[British Empire|British]]. Today it faces important issues related to the decisions of the World Trade Organization at the international level and the development of the urban fact at the local level.

Réunion Island has about 7,000 farms, 5,000 of which are professional. These farms mobilize almost 11,000 AWU (annual workload of one person on a full-time basis).

Ninety-seven percent of the farms in Réunion are less than 20 hectares in size, compared to an average of 78 hectares in [[Metropolitan France|mainland France]].

The most common status is that of individual farmer (97%).

In 2005, more than 60% of farm managers were between 40 and 59 years old.

== Public services ==
=== Health{{anchor|Health care|Healthcare}} ===
In 2005–2006, Réunion experienced an epidemic of [[chikungunya]], a viral disease similar to [[dengue fever]] brought in from East Africa, which infected almost a third of the population because of its transmission through mosquitoes. The epidemic has since been eradicated. See the [[#History|History]] section for more details.
[[File:RouteDesTamarins ViaducBernica.JPG|thumb|The Bernica viaduct or Saint-Paul viaduct at the northern entrance of the route des tamarins]]

=== Transport ===
{{Main article|Transport in Réunion}}

[[Roland Garros Airport]] serves the island, handling flights to mainland France, [[Madagascar]], [[Mauritius]], [[Tanzania]], [[Comoros]], [[Seychelles]], South Africa, China and [[Thailand]]. [[Pierrefonds Airport]], a smaller airport, has some flights to Mauritius and Madagascar. In 2019 a [[light rail]] system was proposed to link Le Barachois with the airport.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2019 |title=Consultation begins on Réunion tram project |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/consultation-begins-on-reunion-tram-project/ |access-date=27 August 2019 |website=International Railway Journal |archive-date=27 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827123916/https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/consultation-begins-on-reunion-tram-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Education ===
Réunion Island has its own [[education system]]. Chantal Manès-Bonnisseau, Inspector General of Education, Sport and Research, was appointed [[Rector (academia)|Rector]] of the Académie de La Réunion and Chancellor of Universities at the [[Council of Ministers]] on 29 July 2020.

She succeeds Vêlayoudom Marimoutou, who took office as secretary general of the Indian Ocean Commission on 16 July.

The Rectorate is located in the main city, in the Moufia district of Saint-Denis. At the start of the 2012 school year, the island had 522 pre-school or primary schools, including 26 private schools, for 120,230 students at the primary level, 82 secondary schools, including six private schools, for 61,300 students, 32 general and technological high schools, including three private schools, for 23,650 students, and 15 vocational schools, including two private schools, for 16,200 students.

Réunion's priority education zones affect slightly more than half of the primary and secondary school students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Éducation prioritaire |url=http://www.ac-reunion.fr/la-pedagogie/education-prioritaire.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=2 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702053449/http://www.ac-reunion.fr/la-pedagogie/education-prioritaire.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Baccalaureate results are relatively close to the national average with a rate of 81.4% in 2012 compared to 82.4% in 2011 (respectively: 84.5% and 85.6% in the national average).

In higher education, the [[University of Reunion Island|University of La Réunion]] has 11,600 students spread across the various sites, especially in Saint-Denis and Le Tampon. A further 5,800 students are divided between the post-baccalaureate courses of secondary education and other higher studies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Site de l'Université de la Réunion 2020/2021 |url=https://www.univ-reunion.fr/ |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630103119/https://www.univ-reunion.fr/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Energy ===
[[File:Vue barrage takamaka.jpg|thumb|Takamaka II hydroelectric dam]]
Energy on Réunion depends on oil and is limited by the island's [[Island|insularity]], which forces it to produce electricity locally and import [[fossil fuels]]. Faced with increasing demand and environmental requirements, the energy produced on the island is tending to increasingly exploit its great renewable energy potential through the development of [[wind farms]], solar farms and other experimental projects. Although 35% of La Réunion's electricity came from renewable sources in 2013, the department's energy dependency rate exceeds 85%. Saving electricity and optimising [[Energy efficiency implementation|energy efficiency]] are two major areas of work for the authorities responsible for energy issues.

==== Hydroelectric power ====
Due to the large volumes of rainfall, the flow of surface water allows the installation of hydroelectric infrastructures, especially as erosion has carved out narrow and very deep ravines. The Sainte-Rose plant (22 MW) and the Takamaka plant (17.5 [[Megawatt|MW]]) are the two largest. In total, the island's six [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] infrastructures have a capacity of 133 MW.

== Symbols ==
La Réunion has no official [[coat of arms]] or [[flag]].

Former Governor Merwart created a coat of arms for the island on the occasion of the 1925 [[colonial exhibition]] organised on Petite-Île. Merwart, a member of the Réunion Island Society of Sciences and Arts, wanted to include the island's history:

* the bees evoke the [[First French Empire|Empire]];
* the central coat of arms evokes the [[France|French Republican]] flag;
* the [[Fleur-de-lis|fleurs-de-lis]] evoke the royal era;
* The motto "Florebo quocumque ferar" is that of the French East India Company and means "I will bloom wherever they take me", while the vanilla vines honour a flourishing harvest.
* The [[Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] "MMM" evokes the altitude of the highest peaks;
* the ship Saint-Alexis is the one that first took possession of the island;

The most commonly used flag in La Réunion is that of the "radiant volcano", designed by Guy Pignolet in 1975, sometimes called "Lo Mavéli":<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guide tourisme et loisirs, guide pratique |url=https://guide-reunion.fr/ |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=guide-reunion.fr |language=fr |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627235620/https://guide-reunion.fr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> it represents the volcano of Piton de la Fournaise in the form of a simplified red triangle on a navy blue background, while five sunbeams symbolise the arrival of the populations that have converged on the island over the centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint-Philippe: Le drapeau Lo Mavéli adopté par la mairie |url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Saint-Philippe-Le-drapeau-Lo-Maveli-adopte-par-la-mairie_a72018.html |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=Zinfos 974, l'actualité de l'île de La Réunion |date=27 May 2014 |language=fr |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926040230/https://www.zinfos974.com/Saint-Philippe-Le-drapeau-Lo-Maveli-adopte-par-la-mairie_a72018.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|Africa|<!-- East Africa -->|<!-- Indian Ocean -->|France|<!-- Réunion -->|Islands}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Administrative divisions of France]]
* [[Alfred Nakache]]
* [[Anchaing]]
* ''[[Du battant des lames au sommet des montagnes]]''
* [[List of colonial and departmental heads of Réunion]]
* [[List of French islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans|List of French overseas islands]]
* [[List of Réunionnais]]
* [[Lists of islands]]
* [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 370]]
* [[Scouting and Guiding in Réunion]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* James Rogers and Luis Simón. [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/sede300309studype407004_/SEDE300309StudyPE407004_en.pdf The Status and Location of the Military Installations of the Member States of the European Union and Their Potential Role for the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).] Brussels: European Parliament, 2009. 25&nbsp;pp.

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

=== Government ===
* [https://www.departement974.fr/ Departmental Council website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.reunion.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://regionreunion.com/ Regional Council website] {{in lang|fr}}

=== General information ===
* [http://www.reunion.fr/en/ Official tourism website]
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1317 UNESCO World Heritage Site datasheet]
* {{wikiatlas|Réunion}}

{{Réunion topics}}
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