Broadcast media [time series]

1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater

Internet country code [time series]

.mf; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered

Internet users [time series]

total: 19,284 (2022 est.) percent of population: 48.5% (2022 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: fully integrated access; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020) domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems (2018) international: country code - 590; landing points for the SMPR-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the Saba, Statia Cable System submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands (2019)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 68,840 (2012 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 196 (2012 est.)

Economic overview [time series]

high-income French Caribbean territorial economy; extremely reliant on tourism, with severe COVID-19 impacts; near-total destruction from Hurricane Irma in 2017; some offshore banking; import-dependent; duty-free commerce; yachting destination

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) 0.893 (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019)

Exports - partners [time series]

United States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$649.206 million (2021 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports - commodities [time series]

jewelry, diamonds, pearls, recreational boats, cars (2019)

Imports - partners [time series]

United States 76%, Netherlands 7%, France 7% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.3% (2014 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries [time series]

tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

4.9% (2021 est.) -12.5% (2020 est.) 6.5% (2019 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Climate [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

excessive population pressure (increasing settlement); waste management; salinity intrusions into the mainland 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 sedimentation

Waste and recycling [time series]

municipal solid waste generated annually: 15,480 tons (2012 est.)

Area [time series]

total : 50 sq km land: 50 sq km water: negligible

Area - comparative [time series]

more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

58.9 km (for entire island)

Elevation [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 05 N, 63 57 W

Geography - note [time series]

note 1: 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 note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka as Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the border between the French and Dutch halves of the island of Saint Martin runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared by both of the island's entities

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 16 km border countries (1): Sint Maarten 16 km

Location [time series]

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 [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Natural hazards [time series]

subject to hurricanes from July to November

Natural resources [time series]

salt

Population distribution [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Marigot geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: marigot is a French term referring to a body of water, a watercourse, a side-stream, or a tributary rivulet; the name likely refers to a stream at the site of the city's original founding

Citizenship [time series]

see France

Constitution [time series]

history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin conventional short form: Saint Martin local long form: Collectivit d'outre mer de Saint-Martin local 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

Dependency status [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

embassy: none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Vincent BERTON (since 28 March 2022) head of government: President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022) cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council 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 3 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: 2022: Louis MUSSINGTON (RSM) elected president; Territorial Council vote - unanimous 2017: Daniel Gibbs (UD) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 18 of 23 votes

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

the flag of France is used

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

Independence [time series]

none (overseas collectivity of France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACS (associate), UPU

Legal system [time series]

French civil law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms) elections: Territorial Council - first round held on 20 March and second round held on 27 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2027) French Senate - last held on 27 September 2020 (next to be held not later than September 2023) French National Assembly - last held on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held by June 2027) election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party in first round - RSM 25.4%, UD 24.7%, HOPE 17.5%, Saint Martin with You 13.8%, Alternative 11.2%, Future Saint Martin 7.5%; percent of vote by party in second round - RSM and Alternative 49.1%; UD 33.3%; HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin 17.6%; seats by party - RSM and Alternative 16; UD 5, HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin 2; composition - men 13, women 10, percentage women 43.5% French Senate - 1 seat - UMP 1 French National Assembly - 1 seat - UMP 1 note: 1 senator is indirectly elected to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term, and 1 deputy (shared with Saint Barthelemy) is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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)

National holiday [time series]

F te de la F d ration, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985), which commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island

National symbol(s) [time series]

brown pelican

Political parties [time series]

Alternative Future Saint Martin (Avenir Saint Martin) Generation Hope or HOPE Rassemblement Saint-Martinois or RSM (formerly Movement for Justice and Prosperity or MJP) Saint Martin with You Union for Democracy or UD

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age, universal

Background [time series]

Christopher COLUMBUS claimed Saint Martin for Spain in 1493, naming it after the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, but it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook Saint Martin in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The border frequently fluctuated over the next 200 years because of friction between the two countries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%). The cultivation of sugarcane 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, and 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. In 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.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of France

Military and security forces [time series]

no armed forces; Saint Martin Police Force (Korps Politie Sint Marteen)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.7% (male 4,039/female 4,100) 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 10,216/female 11,068) 65 years and over: 10.8% (2024 est.) (male 1,536/female 2,037)

Birth rate [time series]

13.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

NA

Current health expenditure [time series]

NA

Death rate [time series]

4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 49.1 N youth dependency ratio: 33.5 elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 potential support ratio: 6.4 (2021)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

NA

Ethnic groups [time series]

Creole (Mulatto), Black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asian), White, East Indian, other

Gross reproduction rate [time series]

0.88 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

French (official), Dutch, English, Guadeloupian Creole, Haitian Creole, Italian, Martiniquan Creole, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles), Spanish major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81 years (2024 est.) male: 78 years female: 84.2 years

Literacy [time series]

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Median age [time series]

total: 34.2 years (2024 est.) male: 33.4 years female: 34.9 years

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density [time series]

NA

Population [time series]

total: 32,996 male: 15,791 female: 17,205 (2024 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

0.3% (2024 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.8 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana destined for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Europe.

Airports [time series]

1 (2024)

Transportation - note [time series]

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