1996 Edition

Description

a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical

band is divided into three parts

the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Location

46 50 N, 56 20 E -- Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada) Flag ----

Area

comparative area

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

242 sq km

note

includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups

total area

242 sq km

Climate

cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy

Coastline

120 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard

Geographic coordinates

46 50 N, 56 20 E

Geographic note

vegetation scanty

International disputes

focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France; in 1992 an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone area of 12,348 sq km to settle the dispute

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

13%

forest and woodland

4%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

83%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Terrain

mostly barren rock

highest point

Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

12.82 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Infant mortality rate

9.95 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

French

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.25 years (1996 est.)

male

74.76 years

total population

76.34 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)

female

99%

male

99%

total population

99%

Nationality

adjective

French

noun

Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)

Net migration rate

0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

6,809 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.77% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 99%

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Capital

Saint-Pierre

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Data code

SB

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Executive branch

chief of state

President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) represented by Prefect Rene MAURICE (since NA) who was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior

head of government

President of the General Council Gerard GRIGNON (since NA)

Flag

a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band

is divided into three parts

the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions

French National Assembly

elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDF 1

French Senate

elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1

General Council

elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total, 15 from Saint Pierre, 4 from Miquelon) Socialist Party (PS) holds majority of seats

Independence

none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

International organization participation

FZ, WFTU

Judicial branch

Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Legal system

French law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

conventional short form

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

local long form

Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

local short form

Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

National holiday

National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July

Political parties and leaders

Socialist Party (PS); Rassemblement pour la Republique (RPR); Union pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

territorial collectivity of France

US diplomatic representation

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Agriculture

vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989)

Budget

expenditures

$28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8 million (1992 est.)

revenues

$28 million

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.

Electricity

capacity

10,000 kW

consumption per capita

6,013 kWh (1993)

production

50 million kWh

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

Exports

$13.74 million (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities

fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts

partners

US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $68 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$10,000 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$42 million (c.i.f., 1994)

commodities

meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials

partners

Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

2,980 (1994)

by occupation

NA

Unemployment rate

9.6% (1994)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of France

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

6,300 (1990 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system

Telephones

3,300 (1992 est.)

Televisions

2,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

note

new airport to open June 1996 (1995 est.)

total

2

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2

Highways

paved

60 km

total

120 km

unpaved

60 km (1985 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Saint Pierre

Railways

0 km