2012 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 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 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. In 2010, the Dutch portion of the island became an independent nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Area

54.4 sq km 54.4 sq km NEGL

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

Caribbean Ocean 0 m Pic du Paradis 424 m

highest point

Pic du Paradis 424 m

lowest point

Caribbean Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

freshwater 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

15 km Sint Maarten 15 km

border countries

Sint Maarten 15 km

total

15 km

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Natural hazards

subject to hurricanes from July to November

Natural resources

salt

Age structure

26.8% (male 4,125/ female 4,172) 66.9% (male 9,891/ female 10,817) 6.3% (male 876/ female 1,078) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

26.8% (male 4,125/ female 4,172)

15-64 years

66.9% (male 9,891/ female 10,817)

65 years and over

6.3% (male 876/ female 1,078) (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Median age

31.2 years 30.2 years 32.1 years (2012 est.)

female

32.1 years (2012 est.)

male

30.2 years

total

31.2 years

Population

30,959 (July 2012 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Protestant, Hindu

Sex ratio

1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

0.99 male(s)/female

Capital

Marigot 18 04 N, 63 05 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographical coordinates

18 04 N, 63 05 W

name

Marigot

time difference

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

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin Saint Martin Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Martin Saint-Martin

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

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 Prefect Philippe CHOPIN (since 16 November 2011) President of the Territorial Council Alain RICHARDSON (since 1 April 2012) Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council 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 Alain RICHARDSON elected president by the Territorial Council on 1 April 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 Prefect Philippe CHOPIN (since 16 November 2011)

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

Alain RICHARDSON elected president by the Territorial Council on 1 April 2012

head of government

President of the Territorial Council Alain RICHARDSON (since 1 April 2012)

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 (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 18 and 25 March 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) percent of seats by party - RRR 34.1%, Team Daniel Gibbs 2012 32%, UPP 13.3%, Saint-Martin pour tous 9.4%; seats by party - NA; second round, percent of seats by party - RRR 56.9%, Team Daniel Gibbs 43.1%; seats by party - RRR 17, Team Daniel Gibbs 6 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; one seat (shared with Saint Barthelemy) was elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1

election results

percent of seats by party - RRR 34.1%, Team Daniel Gibbs 2012 32%, UPP 13.3%, Saint-Martin pour tous 9.4%; seats by party - NA; second round, percent of seats by party - RRR 56.9%, Team Daniel Gibbs 43.1%; seats by party - RRR 17, Team Daniel Gibbs 6

elections

last held on 18 and 25 March 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)

National anthem

"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land" Gerard KEMPS 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)

lyrics/music

Gerard KEMPS

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)

National symbol(s)

brown pelican

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]; Saint-Martin pour tous; Team Daniel Gibbs

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 - 0.7107 (2011 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

1% 15% 84% (2000)

agriculture

1%

industry

15%

services

84% (2000)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, food, manufactured items

Labor force - by occupation

85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry

Broadcast media

1 local TV station; 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

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

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 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2012)

total

1

Transportation - note

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

Manpower fit for military service

6,435 6,967 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

6,967 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,435

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

168 (2010 est.)

female

168 (2010 est.)

male

168

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France