Décroissance démographique et vieillissement : une exception des Antilles françaises dans l’espace Caraïbes ?

Abstract

As for all the Caribbean territories, the departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, which were once marked by very high population growth rates, have experienced a decrease in population growth and even a decline in recent years. Emigration, more than fertility decline, is the main cause of this phenomenon. More than the number of individuals leaving these territories, the problem is that of their profile: the most qualified have left the territory generally in a long-term perspective. This phenomenon is particularly worrying in territories with an unprecedented rythm of ageing in France. The challenge for these two departments will be to use this ageing as an opportunity.

Keywords

• economic development
• Caribbean
• emigration
• aging population
• declining fertility
• underemployment