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Sint Maarten

Thirty-second orientation

Sint Maarten at a glance

Capital: name: Philipsburg geographic coordinates: 18 1 N, 63 2 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded and named in 1763 by John PHILIPS, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Population: total: 46,738 (2025 est.) male: 23,071 female: 23,667; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Area: total : 34 sq km land: 34 sq km water: 0 sq km note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Government: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Languages: English (official) 67.5%, Spanish 12.9%, Creole 8.2%, Dutch (official) 4.2%, Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 2.2%, French 1.5%, other 3.5% (2001 est.); 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

Netherlands

U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

A 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 · as of 2026-03-31Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
Sovereignty or administration: Netherlands; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31
Administrative center: Philipsburg; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

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 2026-01-18 · 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 Dutch eventually holding the smaller portion of the island (about 39%) and adopting the Dutch spelling of the island's name for their territory. The establishment of cotton, tobacco, and sugar plantations dramatically expanded African slavery on the island in the 18th and 19th centuries; the practice was not abolished in the Dutch half until 1863. The island's economy declined until 1939 when it became a free port; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded beginning in the 1950s. In 1954, Sint Maarten and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles. In a 2000 referendum, the citizens of Sint Maarten voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, effective in 2010. In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, 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 2026-01-18 · source

Geography16 fields

Location: Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Sint Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Geographic coordinates: 18 4 N, 63 4 W; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Area: total : 34 sq km land: 34 sq km water: 0 sq km note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Area - comparative: one-fifth the size of Washington, D.C.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Land boundaries: total: 16 km border countries (1): Saint Martin (France) 16 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Coastline: 58.9 km (for entire island); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Terrain: low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Elevation: highest point: 250 m SW of Mount Flagstaff summit, 383 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Natural resources: fish, salt; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 10.9% (2022 est.) other: 89.1% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Population distribution: the most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg) and Cul de Sac; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes from July to November; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Geography - note: note 1: the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin; 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 of Saint Martin runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

People and Society19 fields

Population: total: 46,738 (2025 est.) male: 23,071 female: 23,667; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Ethnic groups: Saint Maarten 29.9%, Dominican Republic 10.2%, Haiti 7.8%, Jamaica 6.6%, Saint Martin 5.9%, Guyana 5%, Dominica 4.4%, Curacao 4.1%, Aruba 3.4%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.8%, India 2.6%, Netherlands 2.2%, US 1.6%, Suriname 1.4%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, Anguilla 1.1%, other 8%, unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Languages: English (official) 67.5%, Spanish 12.9%, Creole 8.2%, Dutch (official) 4.2%, Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 2.2%, French 1.5%, other 3.5% (2001 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Religions: Protestant 41.9% (Pentecostal 14.7%, Methodist 10.0%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.6%, Baptist 4.7%, Anglican 3.1%, other Protestant 2.8%), Roman Catholic 33.1%, Hindu 5.2%, Christian 4.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, Evangelical 1.4%, Muslim/Jewish 1.1%, other 1.3% (includes Buddhist, Sikh, Rastafarian), none 7.9%, no response 2.4% (2011 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.4% (male 4,409/female 4,114) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 15,158/female 15,496) 65 years and over: 15.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,250/female 3,788); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 28.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 24.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.1 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Median age: total: 40.8 years (2025 est.) male: 39 years female: 42.8 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Population growth rate: 1.1% (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Death rate: 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Net migration rate: 5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Population distribution: the most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg) and Cul de Sac; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Major urban areas - population: 1,327 PHILIPSBURG (capital) (2011); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Infant mortality rate: total: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.7 years (2024 est.) male: 77.4 years female: 82.2 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Total fertility rate: 1.96 children born/woman (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Gross reproduction rate: 0.96 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Environment4 fields

Environmental issues: scarcity of potable water; inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 10.9% (2022 est.) other: 89.1% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Government21 fields

Country name: conventional long form: Country of Sint Maarten conventional short form: Sint Maarten local long form: Land Sint Maarten (Dutch)/ Country of Sint Maarten (English) local short form: Sint Maarten (Dutch and English) former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after Saint MARTIN of Tours because he visited on 11 November, the saint's feast day; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Dependency status: one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs note: the other three constituent countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Curacao; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Capital: name: Philipsburg geographic coordinates: 18 1 N, 63 2 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded and named in 1763 by John PHILIPS, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Constitution: history: previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 21 July 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Sint Maarten but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands) amendment process: proposals initiated by the Government or by Parliament; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority of the Parliament membership; passage of amendments relating to fundamental rights, authorities of the governor and of Parliament must include the "views" of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Government prior to ratification by Parliament; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Citizenship: see the Netherlands; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Executive branch: chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Ajamu G. BALY (since 10 October 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Luc MERCELINA (since 3 May 2024) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the governor election/appointment process: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party as prime minister; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament of Sint Maarten legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 15 (directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 1/11/2024 parties elected and seats per party: NA (4); UPP (3); URSM (2); DP (2); PFP (2); NOW (2) percentage of women in chamber: 46.7% expected date of next election: 2028; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (consists of the presiding judge, other members, and their substitutes); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch serve for life subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Political parties: Democratic Party or DP National Alliance or NA National Opportunity Wealth or NOW Party for Progress or PFP Sint Maarten Christian Party or SMCP Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement or URSM United People's Party or UPP United Sint Maarten Party or US Party; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Sint Maarten; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Sint Maarten; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ILO, Interpol, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National holiday: King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967) note: observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday is Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), and is celebrated on both halves of the island; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue, with a white isosceles triangle based on the left side; the national coat of arms is in the center of the triangle, with an orange-bordered blue shield that displays the white courthouse in Philipsburg, as well as yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; over the shield is a yellow rising sun and a brown pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield has the motto SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing) note: the flag resembles Philippines' flag, but with the red and blue bands reversed; the three main colors are the same as the Dutch flag; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National symbol(s): brown pelican, yellow sage (flower); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National color(s): red, white, blue; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National anthem(s): title: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land" lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS history: the song, written in 1958, is used as a local anthem for the entire island (both French and Dutch sides) _____ title: “Het Wilhelmus” (The William) lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown history: adopted 1932; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Economy19 fields

Economic overview: high-income, tourism-based Dutch autonomous constituent economy; severe hurricane- and COVID-19-related economic recessions; multilateral trust fund helping offset economic downturn; no property taxation; re-exporter to Saint Martin; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.986 billion (2024 est.) $1.919 billion (2023 est.) $1.849 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Real GDP growth rate: 3.5% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 9.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Real GDP per capita: $45,800 (2024 est.) $44,900 (2023 est.) $43,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.735 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2017 est.) 0.1% (2016 est.) 0.3% (2015 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry: 6% (2021 est.) services: 89.3% (2021 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Agricultural products: sugar; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Industries: tourism, light industry; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2021 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Remittances: 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Current account balance: -$116.693 million (2023 est.) -$56.984 million (2022 est.) -$311.463 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Exports: $1.504 billion (2023 est.) $1.375 billion (2022 est.) $790.938 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Exports - partners: Antigua & Barbuda 28%, USA 16%, France 12%, Netherlands 8%, Morocco 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Exports - commodities: scrap iron, ships, jewelry, flavored water, liquor (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Imports: $1.489 billion (2023 est.) $1.32 billion (2022 est.) $1.003 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Imports - partners: USA 82%, Netherlands 7%, France 4%, Brazil 1%, Switzerland 1% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Imports - commodities: jewelry, refined petroleum, ships, pearl products, diamonds (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2024 est.) 1.79 (2023 est.) 1.79 (2022 est.) 1.79 (2021 est.) 1.79 (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Energy1 fields

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Communications3 fields

Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 86,542 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 205 (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Internet country code: .sx; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Internet users: percent of population: 89.5% (2022); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Transportation2 fields

Airports: 1 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Ports: total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Coles Bay Oil Terminal, Philipsburg; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Military and Security2 fields

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the KPSM is supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB)); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Transnational Issues1 fields

Trafficking in persons: tier rating: Tier 3 — Sint Maarten does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Sint Maarten remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/sint-maarten/; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

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