2013 Edition

Background

Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, Saint Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1877 and took control the following year. It was placed under the administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003 the populace of the island voted to secede from Guadeloupe, and in 2007 the island became a French overseas collectivity.

Area

21 sq km

Area - comparative

less than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Ocean 0 m Morne du Vitet 286 m

highest point

Morne du Vitet 286 m

lowest point

Caribbean Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by desalinization of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker

Geographic coordinates

17 90 N, 62 85 W

Land boundaries

0 km

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Natural resources

has few natural resources, its beaches being the most important

Terrain

hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches

Age structure

18.2% (male 682/female 646) 6.8% (male 262/female 235) 47% (male 1,870/female 1,560) 14.7% (male 580/female 495) 13.3% (male 484/female 484) (2013 est.)

0-14 years

18.2% (male 682/female 646)

15-24 years

6.8% (male 262/female 235)

25-54 years

47% (male 1,870/female 1,560)

55-64 years

14.7% (male 580/female 495)

65 years and over

13.3% (male 484/female 484) (2013 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia)

Languages

French (primary), English

Median age

41.7 years 41.8 years 41.6 years (2013 est.)

female

41.6 years (2013 est.)

male

41.8 years

total

41.7 years

Population

7,298 (July 2013 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female 1.2 male(s)/female 1.17 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 1.14 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.12 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.2 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.17 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.14 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Capital

Gustavia 17 53 N, 62 51 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

17 53 N, 62 51 W

name

Gustavia

time difference

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

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2013)

Country name

Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy Saint Barthelemy Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy Saint-Barthelemy Saint-Barth (French); St. Barts or St. Barths (English)

abbreviation

Saint-Barth (French); St. Barts or St. Barths (English)

conventional long form

Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy

conventional short form

Saint Barthelemy

local long form

Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy

local short form

Saint-Barthelemy

Dependency status

overseas collectivity of France

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Executive branch

President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012), represented by Deputy Prefect Philippe CHOPIN (since 16 November 2011) President of the Territorial Council Bruno MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007) Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012), represented by Deputy Prefect Philippe CHOPIN (since 16 November 2011)

election results

Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

elections

French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term

head of government

President of the Territorial Council Bruno MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)

Flag description

the flag of France is used

Independence

none (overseas collectivity of France)

International organization participation

UPU

Legal system

French civil law

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 18 March 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) percent of vote by party - SBA 73.8%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 15.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 10.3%; seats by party - SBA 16, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 2, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1 Saint Barthelemy elects one seat to the French Senate; election last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1; one seat (shared with Saint Martin) was elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 1012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1

election results

percent of vote by party - SBA 73.8%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 15.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 10.3%; seats by party - SBA 16, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 2, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1

elections

last held on 18 March 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)

National anthem

"L'Hymne a St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy) Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI local anthem in use since 1999; as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

lyrics/music

Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI

name

"L'Hymne a St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy)

National holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572)

Political parties and leaders

Action-Equilibre-Transparence [Maxime DESOUCHES] Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy [Benoit CHAUVIN] Saint-Barth d'Abord! or SBA [Bruno MAGRAS] Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy [Karine MIOT-RICHARD]

Political pressure groups and leaders

The Marine Reserve (protection of fish) Rotary Club

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Economy - overview

The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon high-end tourism and duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors primarily from North America. The luxury hotels and villas host 70,000 visitors each year with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The relative isolation and high cost of living inhibits mass tourism. The construction and public sectors also enjoy significant investment in support of tourism. With limited fresh water resources, all food must be imported, as must all energy resources and most manufactured goods. Employment is strong and attracts labor from Brazil and Portugal.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.78 (2012 est.) 0.72 (2011 est.) 0.76 (2010 est.) 0.72 (2009 est.) 0.68 (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

no local TV broadcasters; 3 FM radio channels (2 via repeater)

Internet country code

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

Telephone system

fully integrated access direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe (2008)

domestic

direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems

general assessment

fully integrated access

international

country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe (2008)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

Gustavia

Transportation - note

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

Manpower fit for military service

1,495 1,263 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,263 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,495

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

21 (2010 est.)

female

21 (2010 est.)

male

23

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France