World · permanent entity record · BL
Saint Barthelemy
Thirty-second orientation
Saint Barthelemy at a glance
- Capital
- 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 of Sweden, who was ruler when Sweden bought the island from France in 1784; the name was retained when the island was sold back to France in 1878
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Population
- total: 7,079 (2025 est.) male: 3,730 female: 3,349
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Area
- total : 25 sq km land: 25 sq km water: negligible
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Government
- parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Languages
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Claims are attributed · classifications are dated
Claims and contested status
Maintained classification
Dependency or area of special sovereignty
France
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.
Maintained profile
- Classification
- Dependency or area of special sovereignty
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
- Sovereignty or administration
- France
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
- Administrative center
- Gustavia
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- Background
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography13 fields
- Location
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Map references
- Central America and the Caribbean
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 25 sq km land: 25 sq km water: negligible
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- less than one-eighth the size of Washington, D.C.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural resources
- few natural resources; beaches foster tourism
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 8.5% (2022 est.) other: 91.5% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most of the populace is concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island's periphery
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- a 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society18 fields
- Population
- total: 7,079 (2025 est.) male: 3,730 female: 3,349
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- French, Portuguese, Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 60.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 38 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 47.7 years (2025 est.) male: 47 years female: 47.8 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 9.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 9.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most of the populace is concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island's periphery
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 81 years (2024 est.) male: 78 years female: 84.2 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment3 fields
- Environmental issues
- land-based pollution; urbanization; limited freshwater resources; overfishing
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 8.5% (2022 est.) other: 91.5% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government19 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy local long form: Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Barthélemy local short form: Saint-Barthélemy abbreviation: Saint-Barth (French)/ St. Barts or St. Barths (English) etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo in 1493
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency status
- overseas collectivity of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- 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 of Sweden, who was ruler when Sweden bought the island from France in 1784; the name was retained when the island was sold back to France in 1878
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendment process: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 15 January 2025) head of government: President of Territorial Council Xavier LEDEE (since 3 April 2022) cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council; there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council election/appointment process: 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 most recent election date: 27 March 2022 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 expected date of next election: 2027
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: Territorial Council legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 19 (directly elected) electoral system: mixed scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/27/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Saint Barth Action-Équilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy (13); SBA (6) expected date of next election: 2027 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (overseas collectivity of France)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- embassy: none (overseas collectivity of France)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International organization participation
- ACS (associate), UPU
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Independence
- none (overseas collectivity of France)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790) note 1: local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572) note 2: often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, France's national celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789 and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are la Fête nationale (National Holiday) and le Quatorze Juillet (14th of July)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "L'Hymne à St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy) lyrics/music: Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI history: local anthem in use since 1999 _____ title: "La Marseillaise" lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle history: official anthem, as a French collectivity
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy6 fields
- Economic overview
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- Spain 57%, Switzerland 24%, France 6%, Ireland 5%, Canada 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- refined copper, jewelry (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- Switzerland 50%, Portugal 14%, Brazil 6%, Japan 5%, Ireland 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- precious metal watches, base metal watches, jewelry, cars, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy1 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications3 fields
- Broadcast media
- 2 local TV broadcasters; 5 FM radio channels (2021)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet country code
- .bl note: .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, are also used
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 71.3% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation1 fields
Military and Security1 fields
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.