1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 242 sq km land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Area-comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Coastline
120 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
46 50 N, 56 20 E
Geography-note
vegetation scanty
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 13% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 4% other: 83% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
fish, deepwater ports
Terrain
mostly barren rock
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
12.45 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
5.49 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Infant mortality rate
8.62 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
French
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.91 years male: 75.35 years female: 78.79 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1982 est.)
Nationality
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French
Net migration rate
0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
6,914 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
0.76% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 99%
Total fertility rate
1.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territorial collectivity of France) note: there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by the US Government, but there are two communes-St. Pierre, Miquelon
Constitution
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name
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
Data code
SB
Dependency status
self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Executive branch
chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Francois CARENCO (since NA 1996) head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC (since NA 1996) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council
Flag 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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
International organization participation
FZ, WFTU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Judicial branch
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Legal system
French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation
Legislative branch
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 15, other 4 note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results-percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party-UDF 1
National capital
Saint-Pierre
National holiday
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 14,800 metric tons (1994)
Budget
revenues: $28 million expenditures: $28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8 million (1992 est.)
Currency
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economy-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
27,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
6,216 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
42 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993)
Exports
total value: $5 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$74 million (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $70.2 million (c.i.f., 1995) 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 price index
NA%
Labor force
total: 2,971 (1995) by occupation: NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
3,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Telephones
3,650 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations
0 (programs from France, Canada, and the US are rebroadcast)
Televisions
2,000 (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate
11% (1996)
Transportation
Airports
2 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.) Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of France