Page last updated on January 7, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 05 N, 63 57 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 54.4 sq km
country comparison to the world: 231
land: 54.4 sq km
water: NEGL
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 15 km
border countries: Sint Maarten 15 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58.9 km (for entire island)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
salt
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
subject to hurricanes from July to November
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
freshwater supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia), white, East Indian
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
French (official), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Protestant, Hindu
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31,264 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 4,157/female 4,196)
15-24 years: 11% (male 1,768/female 1,681)
25-54 years: 47.3% (male 6,972/female 7,822)
55-64 years: 8.3% (male 1,217/female 1,379)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 928/female 1,144) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 31.5 years
male: 30.5 years
female: 32.4 years (2013 est.)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
overseas collectivity of France
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Marigot
geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
French civil law
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012), represented by Deputy Prefect Philippe CHOPIN (since 16 November 2011)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Aline HANSON (since 17 April 2013)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Aline HANSON elected president by the Territorial Council on 17 April 2013 (next to be held in 2018); note - Alaine RICHARDSON was removed from the post
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 and 25 March 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)
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
note: Saint Martin elects one member to the French Senate; election last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); 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
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the flag of France is used
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
brown pelican
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"
lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS
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)
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$561.5 million (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$561.5 million (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$19,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000)
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17,300 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
crude petroleum, food, manufactured items
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Communications:
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: fully integrated access
domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe (2009)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater (2008)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.mf; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 231
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Transportation - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 6,435
females age 16-49: 6,967 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 168
female: 168 (2010 est.)