2010 Edition

Background

Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting 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 amongst 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 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane introduced 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.

Area

land

54.4 sq km

total

54.4 sq km

water

NEGL

Area - comparative

more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-November is the hurricane season

Coastline

58.9 km (for entire island)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pic du Paradis 424 m

lowest point

Caribbean Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water

Geographic coordinates

18 05 N, 63 57 W

Geography - note

the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

Land boundaries

border countries

Sint Maarten 15 km

total

15 km

Location

island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Natural hazards

subject to hurricanes from July to November

Natural resources

salt

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 3,991/female 4,048) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 9,596/female 10,532) 65 years and over: 5.5% (male 742/female 911) (2010 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)

Median age

female

31.6 years (2010 est.)

male

29.7 years

total

30.8 years

Population

30,235 (July 2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Capital

daylight savings

+1 hour

geographical coordinates

18 04 N, 63 05 W

name

Marigot

time difference

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

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

conventional long form

Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin

conventional short form

Saint Martin

local long form

Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin

local short form

Saint-Martin

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

cabinet

Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)

election

French president elected by popular vote to 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

election results

Frantz GUMBS elected president by the Territorial Council on 7 August 2008 but election was declared invalid on 10 April 2009

head of government

President of the Territorial Council Frantz GUMBS (since 5 May 2009)

Flag description

the flag of France is used

Independence

none (overseas collectivity of France)

International organization participation

UPU

Legal system

the laws of France where applicable apply

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%, Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; seats by party - UPP 16, RRR 6, Reussir Saint-Martin 1 note: Saint Martin elects one member 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

elections

last held on 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)

National anthem

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)

name

"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

Political parties and leaders

Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Economy - overview

The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

15%

services

84% (2000)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, food, manufactured items

Industries

tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry

Labor force - by occupation

85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry

Broadcast media

1 local TV station; receives television broadcasts from the Netherlands Antilles; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater (2008)

Internet country code

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

Telephone system

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

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Transportation - note

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

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,391 females age 16-49: 6,947 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

165 (2010 est.)

male

172

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================