CapitalMarigot
Population33,093
Area50 km²
LanguagesFrench , Dutch, English, Guadeloupian Creole, Haitian Creole, Italian, Martiniquan Creole, Papiamento , Spanish
Currencyeuros
Life Expectancy81.0 yr
Governmentparliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
land
50 sq km
water
negligible
total
50 sq km
Climate
annual temperature averages range from 27 to 29 degrees Celsius; characterized by low humidity, mild trade winds, and short, heavy rainfall; the hurricane season occurs from July to November
Land use
other
75.2% (2022 est.)
forest
24.8% (2022 est.)
agricultural land
0% (2022 est.)
Location
the Caribbean, situated in the northern group of the Leeward Islands; the French territory on the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin is positioned to the east of the US Virgin Islands
Coastline
58.9 km (for entire island)
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Pic du Paradis 424 m
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
16 km
border countries
Sint Maarten 16 km
Natural hazards
vulnerable to hurricanes from July through November
Geography - note
note 1: the southern boundary is shared with Sint Maarten, a territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; collectively, these two regions constitute the smallest landmass globally that is governed by two self-ruling states
note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (also known as Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) stands as one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the boundary separating the French and Dutch portions of the island traverses the middle of the lagoon, which is utilized by both governance entities on the island
Natural resources
salt
Area - comparative
over one-third the area of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
18 05 N, 63 57 W
Population distribution
the majority of the population resides along the coastline, with the highest density located near the capital Marigot, in addition to Orleans and Grand-Case
People & Society
Languages
Languages
French (official), Dutch, English, Guadeloupian Creole, Haitian Creole, Italian, Martiniquan Creole, Papiamento (a dialect from the 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.
Religions
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
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
total population
0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.75 male(s)/female
Birth rate
13.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
33.4 years
total
34.3 years (2025 est.)
female
34.9 years
Population
male
15,825
total
33,093 (2025 est.)
female
17,268
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)
Ethnic groups
Creole (Mulatto), Black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asian), White, East Indian, other
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
55.4 (2025 est.) N
youth dependency ratio
38 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
5.7 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
17.4 (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.9% of GDP (2023 est.) NA
Education expenditure (% national budget)
23% national budget (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
total
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.29% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.88 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the majority of residents reside near the coastline, with the highest density located in the capital Marigot, along with Orleans and Grand-Case
Life expectancy at birth
male
78 years
female
84.2 years
total population
81 years (2024 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
the average temperature ranges from 27 to 29 degrees Celsius throughout the entire year; characterized by low humidity and gentle trade winds, with short, intense rain showers; the hurricane season lasts from July until November
Land use
other
75.2% (2022 est.)
forest
24.8% (2022 est.)
agricultural land
0% (2022 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
15,500 tons (2024 est.)
Environmental issues
management of waste; intrusion of salinity; scarcity of freshwater resources; overuse of marine resources including reef fisheries, coral, and shells; water contamination and harm to coral reefs caused by boats
Government
Flag
the flag of France is utilized
Capital
name
Marigot
etymology
the term is derived from the French word marigot, which translates to "backwater" or "swampy region;" it likely originates from the original fishing village's proximity to a wetland area adjacent to a lagoon
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
18 04 N, 63 05 W
Suffrage
18 years of age, universal
Citizenship
see France
Constitution
history
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
amendment process
amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
Country name
etymology
the explorer Christopher COLUMBUS designated the island in honor of Saint MARTIN of Tours during his visit on 11 November 1493, coinciding with the saint's feast day
local long form
Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
local short form
Saint-Martin
conventional long form
Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin
conventional short form
Saint Martin
Independence
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Legal system
French civil law
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Executive branch
cabinet
Executive Council, along with an advisory economic, social, and cultural council
chief of state
President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 10 February 2025)
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
head of government
President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022)
most recent election date
3 April 2022
election/appointment process
the French president is elected directly by absolute-majority popular vote over 2 rounds, if necessary, for a term of 5 years (eligible for a second term); the prefect is appointed by the French president based on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the president of the Territorial Council is elected by its members for a term of 5 years
expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Dependency status
overseas collectivity of France
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
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
23 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Territorial Council
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
3/27/2022
expected date of next election
March 2027
percentage of women in chamber
43.5%
parties elected and seats per party
RSM and Alternative (16); UD (5); HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin (2)
National anthem(s)
title
"La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
history
official anthem, as a French collectivity
lyrics/music
Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National symbol(s)
brown pelican
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (overseas collectivity of France)
International organization participation
ACS (associate), UPU
Economy
Industries
light industry, manufacturing, and tourism, heavy industry
Exchange rates
Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
economy of a high-income French Caribbean territory; highly dependent on tourism, severely affected by COVID-19; nearly complete devastation from Hurricane Irma in 2017; some offshore banking activities; reliant on imports; operates duty-free trade; recognized as a yachting hub
Exports - partners
United States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019)
Imports - partners
United States 76%, Netherlands 7%, France 7% (2019)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2019
6.5% (2019 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2020
-12.5% (2020 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.9% (2021 est.)
Exports - commodities
gold, specialized vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019)
Imports - commodities
jewelry, diamonds, pearls, recreational boats, automobiles (2019)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$649.206 million (2021 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
48.5% (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
One local television station; access to approximately 20 radio stations, among which are RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts through a repeater.
Internet country code
.mf
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
68,840 (2012 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
196 (2012 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2025)
Military & Security
Military - note
The responsibility for defense lies with France.
Military and security forces
There are no standing military forces; the Ministry of Justice oversees the Police Force of Sint Maarten (Korps Politie Sint Marteen, KPSM) (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
156 (2024 est.)
