Central America and Caribbean :: SAINT MARTIN

- ## Introduction :: SAINT MARTIN

- Background:
  Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane 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; 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.

- ## Geography :: SAINT MARTIN

- 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
  Geographic coordinates:
  18 05 N, 63 57 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 54.4 sq km
  land: 54.4 sq km
  water: NEGL
  country comparison to the world: 231
  Area - comparative:
  more than one-third the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  total: 16 km
  border countries (1): Sint Maarten 16 km
  Coastline:
  58.9 km (for entire island)
  Climate:
  temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celcius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
  Natural resources:
  salt
  Natural hazards:
  subject to hurricanes from July to November
  Environment - current issues:
  freshwater supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water
  Geography - note:
  the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

- ## People and Society :: SAINT MARTIN

- Ethnic groups:
  Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia), white, East Indian
  Languages:
  French (official), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Protestant, Hindu
  Population:
  31,754 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26.51% (male 4,192/female 4,225)
  15-24 years: 10.58% (male 1,682/female 1,677)
  25-54 years: 47.05% (male 7,101/female 7,838)
  55-64 years: 8.57% (male 1,267/female 1,455)
  65 years and over: 7.3% (male 1,033/female 1,284) (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 31.8 years
  male: 30.7 years
  female: 32.7 years (2014 est.)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

- ## Government :: SAINT MARTIN

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin
  conventional short form: Saint Martin
  local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
  local short form: Saint-Martin
  Dependency status:
  overseas collectivity of France
  Capital:
  name: Marigot
  geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W
  time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Independence:
  none (overseas collectivity of France)
  National holiday:
  Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)
  Constitution:
  4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2013)
  Legal system:
  French civil law
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age, universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by Deputy Prefect Philippe CHOPIN (since 16 November 2011)
  head of government: President of Territorial Council Aline HANSON (since 17 April 2013)
  cabinet: Executive 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 French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council elected by its members for a 5-year term; election last held on 17 April 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
  election results: Aline HANSON elected president by the Territorial Council
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
  note: Saint Martin elects one member to the French Senate; election last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held not later than September 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1; one seat (shared with Saint Barthelemy) was elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1
  elections: last held on 18 and 25 March 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)
  election results: percent of seats by party - RRR 34.1%, Team Daniel Gibbs 2012 32%, UPP 13.3%, Saint-Martin pour tous 9.4%, other 11.2%; seats by party - NA; second round, percent of seats by party - RRR 56.9%, Team Daniel Gibbs 43.1%; seats by party - RRR 17, Team Daniel Gibbs 6
  Political parties and leaders:
  Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]
  Reussir Saint-Martin
  Saint-Martin pour tous [Martha OGOUNDELE]
  Team Daniel Gibbs [Daniel GIBBS]
  Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA
  International organization participation:
  UPU
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (overseas collectivity of France)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (overseas collectivity of France)
  Flag description:
  the flag of France is used
  National symbol(s):
  brown pelican
  National anthem:
  name: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"
  lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS
  note: the song, written in 1958, is used as an unofficial anthem for the entire island (both French and Dutch sides); as a collectivity of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La Marseillaise" remains official on the French side (see France); as a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in addition to the local anthem, "Het Wilhelmus" remains official on the Dutch side (see Netherlands)

- ## Economy :: SAINT MARTIN

- Economy - overview:
  The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $561.5 million (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $561.5 million (2005 est.)
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $19,300 (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1%
  industry: 15%
  services: 84% (2000)
  Industries:
  tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
  Labor force:
  17,300 (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Labor force - by occupation:
  85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry
  Imports - commodities:
  crude petroleum, food, manufactured items
  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.7489 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
  0.7752 (2012 est.)
  0.7185 (2011 est.)
  0.755 (2010 est.)

- ## Communications :: SAINT MARTIN

- Telephone system:
  general assessment: fully integrated access
  domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
  international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe (2009)
  Broadcast media:
  1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater (2008)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2007)
  Internet country code:
  .mf; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered

- ## Transportation :: SAINT MARTIN

- Airports:
  1 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 233
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Transportation - note:
  nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten

- ## Military :: SAINT MARTIN

- Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 6,435
  females age 16-49: 6,967 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 168
  female: 168 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France