2017 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. 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.

Area

54.4 sq km 54.4 sq km negligible

land

54.4 sq km

total

54.4 sq km

water

negligible

Area - comparative

more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

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

Coastline

58.9 km (for entire island)

Elevation

NA lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m

highest point

Pic du Paradis 424 m

mean elevation

NA

Environment - current issues

freshwater supply is dependent on desalination of sea water

Geographic coordinates

18 05 N, 63 57 W

Geography - note

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

Land boundaries

16 km Sint Maarten 16 km

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

Population - distribution

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

Age structure

26.22% (male 4,192/female 4,231) 10.35% (male 1,645/female 1,681) 46.67% (male 7,160/female 7,832) 8.74% (male 1,309/female 1,500) 8.02% (male 1,138/female 1,437) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

26.22% (male 4,192/female 4,231)

15-24 years

10.35% (male 1,645/female 1,681)

25-54 years

46.67% (male 7,160/female 7,832)

55-64 years

8.74% (male 1,309/female 1,500)

65 years and over

8.02% (male 1,138/female 1,437) (2017 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)

Major infectious diseases

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Median age

32.5 years 31.6 years 33.4 years (2017 est.)

female

33.4 years (2017 est.)

male

31.6 years

total

32.5 years

Population

32,125 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

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

Religions

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Sex ratio

1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

0.99 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.91 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.87 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 (2016 est.)

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)

Citizenship

see France

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

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

conventional long form

Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin

conventional 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

local long form

Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Martin

local short form

Saint-Martin

Dependency status

overseas collectivity of France the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU

note

the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Executive branch

President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Anne LAUBIES (since 8 June 2015) President of Territorial Council Daniel GIBBS (since 2 April 2017) Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council 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) Aline HANSON elected president; Territorial Council vote - NA

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Anne LAUBIES (since 8 June 2015)

election results

Aline HANSON elected president; Territorial Council vote - NA

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 Daniel GIBBS (since 2 April 2017)

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 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 one member (shared with Saint Barthelemy) to the French National Assembly Territorial Council - last held on 18 and 25 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2022) French Senate - held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held not later than September 2020) French National Assembly - last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022) Territorial Council - percent of vote by party (first round) - TDG 49.1%, MJP 13.7%, MVP 12.3%, HOPE 8.7%, Continuons pour Saint-Martin 6.5%, other 9.7%; seats by party - NA; percent of vote by party (second round) - TDG 64.3%, MJP 24.2%, MVP 11.5.5%; seats by party - TDG 18, MJP 4, MVP 1 French Senate - 1 seat: UMP 1 French National Assembly - 1 seat: UMP 1

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 one member (shared with Saint Barthelemy) to the French National Assembly

election results

Territorial Council - percent of vote by party (first round) - TDG 49.1%, MJP 13.7%, MVP 12.3%, HOPE 8.7%, Continuons pour Saint-Martin 6.5%, other 9.7%; seats by party - NA; percent of vote by party (second round) - TDG 64.3%, MJP 24.2%, MVP 11.5.5%; seats by party - TDG 18, MJP 4, MVP 1

elections

Territorial Council - last held on 18 and 25 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2022)

French National Assembly - 1 seat

UMP 1

French Senate - 1 seat

UMP 1

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"

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 (1790); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

National symbol(s)

brown pelican

Political parties and leaders

Continuons pour St. Martin [Aline HANSON] En marche vers le progres or MVP [Alain RICHARDSON] Gereration Hope or HOPE [Jules CHARVILLE] Movement for Justice and Prosperity or MJP [Louis MUSSINGTON] New Direction [Jeanne VANTERPOOL] Rally Responsibility Success (Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON] Team Daniel Gibbs 2017 or TDG [Daniel GIBBS] Union for Progress (Union Pour le Progres or UPP) [Louis-Constant FLEMING]; affiliated with UMP

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Economy - overview

The economy of Saint Martin centers on 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. The financial sector is also important to Saint Martin’s economy as it facilitates financial mediation for its thriving tourism sector. 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 US. Saint Martin is reported to have one of the highest per capita income in the Caribbean. As with the rest of the Caribbean, Saint Martin’s financial sector is having to deal with losing correspondent banking relationships.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.9214 (2016 est.) 0.885 (2015 est.) 0.7489 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.7752 (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

1% 15% 84% (2000)

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

Electricity access

3,194 91% 100% 80% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

80% (2012)

electrification - total population

91%

electrification - urban areas

100%

population without electricity

3,194

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

Internet users

1,100 3.5% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

3.5% (July 2016 est.)

total

1,100

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 (2009)

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

1 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

total

1

Transportation - note

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

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France