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Saint Martin

Central America and the Caribbean

Page last updated: April 24, 2024

Introduction

Background

Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633 but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%). The cultivation of sugarcane introduced African slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2010, the southern Dutch portion of the island became the independent nation of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Saint Martin causing extensive damage to roads, communications, electrical power, and housing; the UN estimated that 90% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Geography

Location

Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin lies east of the US Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates

18 05 N, 63 57 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

Total: 50 km²

Land: 50 km²

Water: negligible

Area - comparative

More than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

Total: 16 km

Border countries (1): Sint Maarten 16 km

Coastline

58.9 km (for entire island)

Climate

Temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November

Elevation

Highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m

Lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

Salt

Population distribution

Most of the population is found along the coast, with a largest concentrations around the capital Marigot, Orleans, and Grand-Case

Natural hazards

Subject to hurricanes from July to November

Geography - note

Note 1: the southern border is shared with Sint Maarten, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states

Note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka as Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the border between the French and Dutch halves of the island of Saint Martin runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared by both of the island's entities

People and Society

Population

32,897 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups

Creole (Mulatto), Black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asian), White, East Indian, other

Languages

French (official), Dutch, English, Guadeloupian Creole, Haitian Creole, Italian, Martiniquan Creole, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles), Spanish

Major-language sample(s):

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.9% (male 4,067/female 4,125)

15-64 years: 64.65% (male 10,205/female 11,063)

65 years and over: 10.45% (2023 est.) (male 1,484/female 1,953)

2023 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

Total dependency ratio: 49.1 N

Youth dependency ratio: 33.5

Elderly dependency ratio: 15.6

Potential support ratio: 6.4 (2021)

Median age

Total: 34 years (2023 est.)

Male: 33.2 years

Female: 34.8 years

Population growth rate

0.31% (2023 est.)

Birth rate

14 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate

-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Most of the population is found along the coast, with a largest concentrations around the capital Marigot, Orleans, and Grand-Case

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Male: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 80.8 years (2023 est.)

Male: 77.7 years

Female: 84 years

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.88 (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Drinking water source

Improved: urban: 100% of population

Rural: NA

Total: 100% of population

Unimproved: urban: 0% of population

Rural: NA

Total: 0% of population (2020)

Current health expenditure

NA

Physicians density

NA

Sanitation facility access

Improved: urban: 100% of population

Rural: NA

Total: 100% of population

Unimproved: urban: 0% of population

Rural: NA

Total: 0% of population (2020)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

Total population: NA

Male: NA

Female: NA

Environment

Environment - current issues

Excessive population pressure (increasing settlement); waste management; salinity intrusions into the mainland of the island; fresh water supply is dependent on desalination of sea water; over-exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral and shell); indiscriminate anchoring of boats damages coral reefs, causing underwater pollution and sedimentation

Climate

Temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 15,480 tons (2012 est.)

Government

Country name

Conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin

Conventional short form: Saint Martin

Local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Martin

Local short form: Saint-Martin

Etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours because the 11 November 1493 day of discovery was the saint's feast day

Government type

Parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

Dependency status

Overseas collectivity of France

Note: the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU

Capital

Name: Marigot

Geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W

Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: marigot is a French term referring to a body of water, a watercourse, a side-stream, or a tributary rivulet; the name likely refers to a stream at the site of the city's original founding

Independence

None (overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985), which commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island

Constitution

History: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply

Legal system

French civil law

Citizenship

See France

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Vincent BERTON (since 28 March 2022)

Head of government: President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022); First Vice President Alain RICHARDSON (since 3 April 2022)

Cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council

Elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council elected by its members for a 5-year term; election last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027)

Election results:

2022: Louis MUSSINGTON (RSM) elected president; Territorial Council vote - unanimous

2017: Daniel Gibbs (UD) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 18 of 23 votes

Legislative branch

Description: unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms); Saint Martin elects 1 member to the French Senate and 1 member (shared with Saint Barthelemy) to the French National Assembly

Elections: Territorial Council - first round held on 20 March and second round held on 27 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2027)

French Senate - last held on 27 September 2020 (next to be held not later than September 2023)

French National Assembly - last held on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held by June 2027)

Election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party in first round - RSM 25.4%, UD 24.7%, HOPE 17.5%, Saint Martin with You 13.8%, Alternative 11.2%, Future Saint Martin 7.5%; percent of vote by party in second round - RSM and Alternative 49.1%; UD 33.3%; HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin 17.6%; seats by party - RSM and Alternative 16; UD 5, HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin 2; composition - men 13, women 10, percentage women 43.5%

French Senate - 1 seat - UMP 1

French National Assembly - 1 seat - UMP 1

Political parties and leaders

Alternative [Valerie DAMASEAU]

Future Saint Martin (Avenir Saint Martin) [Yawo NYUIADZI]

Generation Hope or HOPE [Jules CHARVILLE]

Rassemblement Saint-Martinois or RSM [Louis MUSSINGTON] (formerly Movement for Justice and Prosperity or MJP)

Saint Martin with You [James HAMLET]

Union for Democracy or UD [Daniel GIBBS]

International organization participation

UPU

Flag description

The flag of France is used

National symbol(s)

Brown pelican

National anthem

Name: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"

Lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS

Note: the song, written in 1958, is used as an unofficial anthem for the entire island (both French and Dutch sides); as a collectivity of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La Marseillaise" remains official on the French side (see France); as a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in addition to the local anthem, "Het Wilhelmus" remains official on the Dutch side (see Netherlands)

Economy

Economic overview

High-income French Caribbean territorial economy; extremely reliant on tourism, with severe COVID-19 impacts; near-total destruction from Hurricane Irma in 2017; some offshore banking; import-dependent; duty-free commerce; yachting destination

Real GDP growth rate

4.9% (2021 est.)

-12.5% (2020 est.)

6.5% (2019 est.)

Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

GDP (official exchange rate)

$649.206 million (2021 est.)

Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 1% (2000)

Industry: 15% (2000)

Services: 84% (2000)

Comparison rankings: services 21; industry 181; agriculture 198

Industries

Tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2014 est.)

Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

17,300 (2008 est.)

Exports - partners

United States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019)

Exports - commodities

Gold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 76%, Netherlands 7%, France 7% (2019)

Imports - commodities

Jewelry, diamonds, pearls, recreational boats, cars (2019)

Exchange rates

Euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:

0.95 (2022 est.)

0.845 (2021 est.)

0.876 (2020 est.)

0.893 (2019 est.)

0.847 (2018 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

Communications

Telephones - mobile cellular

Total subscriptions: 68,840 (2012 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 196 (2012 est.)

Telecommunication systems

General assessment: fully integrated access; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020)

Domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems (2018)

International: country code - 590; landing points for the SMPR-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the Saba, Statia Cable System submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands (2019)

Broadcast media

1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater

Internet country code

.mf; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered

Internet users

Total: 19,284 (2022 est.)

Percent of population: 48.5% (2022 est.)

Transportation

Airports

1 (2024)

Transportation - note

Nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten

Military and Security

Military and security forces

No armed forces; Saint Martin Police Force (Korps Politie Sint Marteen)

Military - note

Defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Illicit drugs

Transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana destined for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Europe.