2015 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 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.

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

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

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

border countries (1)

Sint Maarten 16 km

total

16 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

0-14 years

26.51% (male 4,192/female 4,225)

15-24 years

10.58% (male 1,682/female 1,677)

25-54 years

47.05% (male 7,101/female 7,838)

55-64 years

8.57% (male 1,267/female 1,455)

65 years and over

7.3% (male 1,033/female 1,284) (2015 est.)

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

female

32.7 years (2014 est.)

male

30.7 years

total

31.8 years

Population

31,754 (July 2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Protestant, Hindu

Sex ratio

0-14 years

0.99 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.91 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.87 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Capital

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) (2013)

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

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

chief of state

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

election results

Aline HANSON elected president by the Territorial 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 17 April 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

head of government

President of Territorial Council Aline HANSON (since 17 April 2013)

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

description

unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of seats by party - RRR 34.1%, Team Daniel Gibbs 2012 32%, UPP 13.3%, Saint-Martin pour tous 9.4%, other 11.2%; 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)

note

Saint Martin elects one member to the French Senate; election last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held not later than September 2017); 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

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gerard KEMPS

name

"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"

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)

National holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

National symbol(s)

brown pelican

Political parties and leaders

Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]

Reussir Saint-Martin

Saint-Martin pour tous [Martha OGOUNDELE]

Team Daniel Gibbs [Daniel GIBBS]

Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]

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 -

0.7489 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.7752 (2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

0.755 (2010 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1%

industry

15%

services

84% (2000)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,300 (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$561.5 million (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$561.5 million (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, food, manufactured items

Industries

tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry

Labor force

17,300 (2008 est.)

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2007)

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 (2009)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Transportation - note

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

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

6,967 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,435

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

168 (2010 est.)

male

168

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France