World · permanent entity record · MF
Saint Martin
Thirty-second orientation
Saint Martin at a glance
- Capital
- name: Marigot geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is taken from the French word marigot, meaning "backwater" or "swampy area;" it probably comes from the original fishing village's location next to a water-logged area on a lagoon
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Population
- total: 33,093 (2025 est.) male: 15,825 female: 17,268
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Area
- total : 50 sq km land: 50 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 (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.
- 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
- Marigot
- 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
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography14 fields
- Location
- 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
- 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 : 50 sq km land: 50 sq km water: negligible
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- more than one-third the size of Washington, D.C.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land boundaries
- total: 16 km border countries (1): Sint Maarten 16 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 24.8% (2022 est.) other: 75.2% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most of the population is found along the coast, with the largest concentration around the capital of Marigot, as well as Orleans and Grand-Case
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- subject to hurricanes from July to November
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- note 1: the southern border is shared with Sint Maarten, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world that is shared by two self-governing states note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka 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 runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared by both of the island's entities
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society20 fields
- Population
- total: 33,093 (2025 est.) male: 15,825 female: 17,268
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- Creole (Mulatto), Black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asian), White, East Indian, other
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 55.4 (2025 est.) N youth dependency ratio: 38 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 17.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 34.3 years (2025 est.) male: 33.4 years female: 34.9 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 13.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most of the population is found along the coast, with the largest concentration around the capital of Marigot, as well as Orleans and Grand-Case
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- 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.)
- 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
- 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- total: 100% of population urban: 0% of population
- 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
- Education expenditure
- 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.) NA 23% national budget (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment4 fields
- Environmental issues
- waste management; salinity intrusions; limited freshwater resources; over-exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral, and shell); water pollution and damage to coral reefs from boats
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 24.8% (2022 est.) other: 75.2% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 15,500 tons (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government19 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin conventional short form: Saint Martin local long form: Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Martin local short form: Saint-Martin etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours during a visit on 11 November 1493, the saint's feast day
- 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 note: the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- name: Marigot geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is taken from the French word marigot, meaning "backwater" or "swampy area;" it probably comes from the original fishing village's location next to a water-logged area on a lagoon
- 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 10 February 2025) head of government: President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022) cabinet: Executive Council, as well as 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 French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council elected by its members for a 5-year term most recent election date: 3 April 2022 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 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: 23 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/27/2022 parties elected and seats per party: RSM and Alternative (16); UD (5); HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin (2) percentage of women in chamber: 43.5% expected date of next election: March 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 Barthelemy) is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- 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
- 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 Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985); the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island 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: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land" lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS history: the song, written in 1958, is used as an unofficial anthem for the entire island (both French and Dutch sides) _____ title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille) lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle history: official anthem, as a French collectivity
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy9 fields
- Economic overview
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 4.9% (2021 est.) -12.5% (2020 est.) 6.5% (2019 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $649.206 million (2021 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- United States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- gold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019) top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- United States 76%, Netherlands 7%, France 7% (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- jewelry, diamonds, pearls, recreational boats, cars (2019)
- 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% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications4 fields
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 68,840 (2012 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 196 (2012 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- 1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet country code
- .mf 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: 48.5% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation1 fields
Military and Security2 fields
- Military and security forces
- no regular military forces; Ministry of Justice: Police Force of Sint Maaten (Korps Politie Sint Marteen, KPSM) (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues1 fields
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees: 156 (2024 est.)
- 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.