2018 Edition

Background

Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit 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 61%). 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

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

0 m lowest point: Caribbean Ocean

note

424 highest point: Pic du Paradis

Environment Current Issues

excessive population pressure (increasing settlement); waste management; salinity intrusions into the main land of the island; fresh water supply is dependent on desalination of sea water; over exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral and shell); indiscriminate anchoring of boats damages coral reefs,causing underwater pollution and changes the sediment dynamics of Saint Martin's Island

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

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

0-14 years

26.05% (male 4,184 /female 4,225)

15-24 years

10.29% (male 1,638 /female 1,685)

25-54 years

46.52% (male 7,181 /female 7,836)

55-64 years

8.76% (male 1,317 /female 1,511)

65 years and over

8.38% (male 1,195 /female 1,512) (2018 est.)

Ethnic Groups

other 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

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

Median Age

female

33.7 years (2018 est.)

male

31.9 years

total

32.8 years

Population

32,284 (July 2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

0.91 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.87 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Capital

geographic coordinates

18 04 N, 63 05 W

name

Marigot

time difference

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

Citizenship

note

see France

Constitution

amendments

amendment procedures of France's constitution apply (2018)

history

4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2018)

Country Name

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

note

the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

note

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

note

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

election results

Daniel GIBBS (TDG) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 18 votes, 4 blank, 1 invalid

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 26 March 2017

head of government

President of Territorial Council Daniel GIBBS (since 2 April 2017); First Vice President Valerie DAMASEAU (since 2 April 2017)

Flag Description

the flag of France is used

Government Type

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

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 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)

note

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) French Senate - 1 seat: UMP 1 French National Assembly - 1 seat: 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 (1790); note - local holiday is Schoelcher 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

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.In September 2017, Hurricane Irma destroyed 95% of the French side of Saint Martin. Along the coastline of Marigot, the nerve center of the economy, the storm wiped out restaurants, shops, banks and open-air markets impacting more than 36,000 inhabitants.

Exchange Rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.885 (2017 est.)

0.903 (2016 est.)

0.9214 (2015 est.)

0.885 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

1% (2000)

industry

15% (2000)

services

84% (2000)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$561.5 million (2005 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$19,300 (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

note

85 directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

80% (2012)

electrification - total population

91% (2012)

electrification - urban areas

100% (2012)

population without electricity

3,194 (2012)

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

percent of population

3.5% (July 2016 est.)

total

1,100 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems (2009)

general assessment

fully integrated access (2009)

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 (2017)

total

1 (2017)

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