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Saint Barthelemy

2024 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
2 local TV broadcasters; 5 FM radio channels (2021)
Internet country code [time series]
.bl; 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: 7,077 (2022 est.) percent of population: 71.3% (2022 est.)
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: fully integrated access; 4G and LTE services (2019) domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems, 3 FM channels, no broadcasting (2018) international: country code - 590; landing points for the SSCS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing voice and data connectivity to numerous Caribbean Islands (2019)
Economy
Economic overview [time series]
high-income French Caribbean territorial economy; duty-free luxury commerce and tourism industries; import-dependent for food, water, energy, and manufacturing; large Brazilian and Portuguese labor supply; environmentally fragile
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]
refined petroleum, fruit juice, precious metal watches, beauty products, special pharmaceuticals (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners [time series]
Nigeria 98%, Suriname 1%, France 0%, Switzerland 0%, Poland 0% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - commodities [time series]
precious metal watches, base metal watches, jewelry, refined petroleum, cars (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners [time series]
Switzerland 37%, Italy 14%, Portugal 11%, Suriname 9%, Brazil 5% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Energy
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Environment
Climate [time series]
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Environment - current issues [time series]
land-based pollution; urbanization; with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and is provided by the desalination of sea water, the collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker; overfishing
Geography
Area [time series]
total : 25 sq km land: 25 sq km water: negligible
Area - comparative [time series]
less than one-eighth the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Elevation [time series]
highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
17 90 N, 62 85 W
Geography - note [time series]
a 1,200-hectare marine nature reserve, the Reserve Naturelle, is made up of five zones around the island that form a network to protect the island's coral reefs, seagrass, and endangered marine species
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 0 km
Location [time series]
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Map references [time series]
Central America and the Caribbean
Natural resources [time series]
few natural resources; beaches foster tourism
Population distribution [time series]
most of the populace concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island periphery
Terrain [time series]
hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches
Government
Capital [time series]
name: Gustavia geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named in honor of King Gustav III (1746-1792) of Sweden during whose reign the island was obtained from France in 1784; the name was retained when in 1878 the island was sold back to France
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 Barthelemy conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy local long form: Collectivit d'outre mer de Saint-Barth lemy local short form: Saint-Barth lemy abbreviation: Saint-Barth (French)/ St. Barts or St. Barths (English) etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo's namesake saint in 1493
Dependency status [time series]
overseas collectivity of France
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 Xavier LEDEE (since 3 April 2022) cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Territorial 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 the French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council indirectly elected by its members for a 5-year term; election last held on 27 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: 2022: Xavier LEDEE (Saint Barth United) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 13 votes for, 6 blank votes 2017: Bruno MAGRAS (Saint Barth First!) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 14 out of 19 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 (19 seats; members elected by absolute majority vote in the first-round vote and proportional representation vote in the second round; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Territorial Council - first round held on 20 March 2022 and second round held on 27 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027) French Senate - election last held on 24 September 2023 (next to be held on 30 September 2026) French National Assembly - election 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 - SBA 46.2%, Saint Barth Action Equilibre 27.1%, Unis pour Saint Barthelemy 26.8%; percent of vote by party in second round - Saint Barth Action Equilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy 50.9%, SBA 49.2%, seats by party - Saint Barth Action Equilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy 13, SBA 6; composition - men NA, women NA, percentage women NA% French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1 French National Assembly - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - 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 Martin) is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a five-year term
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "L'Hymne a St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy) lyrics/music: Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI note: local anthem in use since 1999; as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
National holiday [time series]
F te de la F d ration, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572)
National symbol(s) [time series]
pelican
Political parties [time series]
All for Saint Barth (Tous pour Saint-Barth) Saint Barth Action Equilibre Saint Barth First! (Saint-Barth d'Abord!) or SBA (affiliated with France's Republican party, Les Republicans) Saint Barth United (Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy)
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age, universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
In 1493, Christopher COLUMBUS named Saint Barthelemy for his brother Bartolomeo, but the island was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, France sold the island to Sweden, which renamed the largest town Gustavia after the Swedish King GUSTAV III and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1877 and took control the following year, placing it under the administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the islanders voted to secede from Guadeloupe, and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2012, it became an overseas territory of the EU, allowing it to exert local control over the permanent and temporary immigration of foreign workers, including non-French European citizens. Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017 and caused extensive damage.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of France
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 13.9% (male 506/female 479) 15-64 years: 63.1% (male 2,413/female 2,057) 65 years and over: 23% (2024 est.) (male 818/female 813)
Birth rate [time series]
9.3 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]
9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 30.8 youth dependency ratio: 17.5 elderly dependency ratio: 13.3 potential support ratio: 7.5 (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]
French, Portuguese, Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean
Gross reproduction rate [time series]
0.79 (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 (primary), English 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: 47.4 years (2024 est.) male: 47 years female: 47.8 years
Net migration rate [time series]
-1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Physician density [time series]
NA
Population [time series]
total: 7,086 male: 3,737 female: 3,349 (2024 est.)
Population distribution [time series]
most of the populace concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island periphery
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.11% (2024 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses
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: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.64 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2024)
Roadways [time series]
total: 40 km
Transportation - note [time series]
nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten