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North America :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

- ## Introduction :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Background:
  First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions.

- ## Geography :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Location:
  Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
  Geographic coordinates:
  46 50 N, 56 20 W
  Map references:
  North America
  Area:
  total: 242 sq km
  land: 242 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Area - comparative:
  one and half times the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  120 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy
  Terrain:
  mostly barren rock
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
  Natural resources:
  fish, deepwater ports
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 8.7%
  arable land 8.7%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
  forest: 12.5%
  other: 78.8% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
  Environment - current issues:
  recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
  Geography - note:
  vegetation scanty

- ## People and Society :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Nationality:
  noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
  adjective: French
  Ethnic groups:
  Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
  Languages:
  French (official)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
  Population:
  5,657 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 228
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 15.96% (male 465/female 438)
  15-24 years: 8.75% (male 256/female 239)
  25-54 years: 42.87% (male 1,199/female 1,226)
  55-64 years: 13.68% (male 404/female 370)
  65 years and over: 18.74% (male 443/female 617) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 45.2 years
  male: 44.8 years
  female: 45.6 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -1.08% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 232
  Birth rate:
  7.42 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 223
  Death rate:
  9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Net migration rate:
  -8.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 90.4% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SAINT-PIERRE (capital) 5,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 80.39 years
  male: 78.06 years
  female: 82.85 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Total fertility rate:
  1.56 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

- ## Government :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
  local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
  Dependency status:
  self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France
  Government type:
  parliamentary representative democracy
  Capital:
  name: Saint-Pierre
  geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
  time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
  Administrative divisions:
  none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 2 communes at the second order - Saint Pierre, Miquelon
  Independence:
  none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
  National holiday:
  Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789)
  Constitution:
  4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
  Legal system:
  French civil law
  Citizenship:
  see France
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by Prefect Jean-Christophe BOUVIER (since September 2014)
  head of government: President of Territorial Council Stephane ARTANO (since 21 February 2007)
  cabinet: Le Cabinet du Prefet
  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); election last held on 6 May 2012 (next to be held in 2017); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats - 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote to serve 6-year terms)
  note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect one member to the French Senate; elections 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 - AD 1 (affiliated with UMP); Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ensemble pour l'Avenir 1 (affiliated with PRG)
  elections: elections last held on 18 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2018)
  election results: percent of vote by party - AD 52.5%, Ensemble pour l'Avenir 47.5%; seats by party - AD 14, Ensemble pour l'Avenir 5
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel (composition NA)
  judge selection and term of office: judge selection and tenure NA
  subordinate courts: NA
  Political parties and leaders:
  Archipelago Tomorrow or AD [Stephane ARTANO] (affiliated with UMP)
  Togerther for the Future (Ensemble pour l'Avenir) [Annick GIRARDIN] (affiliated with PRG)
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA
  International organization participation:
  UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
  Flag description:
  a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a blue background with scattered, white, wavy lines under the ship; a continuous black-over-white wavy line divides the ship from the white wavy lines; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the blue on the main portion of the flag symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean and the stylized ship represents the Grande Hermine in which Jacques Cartier "discovered" the islands in 1536
  note: the flag of France used for official occasions
  National symbol(s):
  16th-century sailing ship
  National anthem:
  note: as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

- ## Economy :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Economy - overview:
  The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. France heavily subsidizes the islands to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $215.3 million (2006 est.)
  note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million
  country comparison to the world: 218
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $215.3 million (2006 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  NA%
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $34,900 (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2%
  industry: 15%
  services: 83% (2006 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
  Industries:
  fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
  Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%
  Labor force:
  3,194 (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 224
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 18%
  industry: 41%
  services: 41% (1996)
  Unemployment rate:
  9.9% (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $70 million
  expenditures: $60 million (1996 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  32.5% of GDP (1996 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  4.6% of GDP (1996 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.5% (2010)
  8.1% (2005)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Exports:
  $6.641 million (2010 est.)
  $5.5 million (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Exports - commodities:
  fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
  Imports:
  $95.35 million (2010 est.)
  $68.2 million (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Imports - commodities:
  meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
  Debt - external:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.7489 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
  0.78 (2012 est.)
  0.7185 (2011 est.)
  0.755 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Electricity - production:
  43 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Electricity - consumption:
  39.99 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  26,600 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  97.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  2.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  600 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  1.24 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  604.4 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  151,100 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203

- ## Communications :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 4,800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 81 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: adequate
  international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system
  Broadcast media:
  2 TV stations with a third repeater station, all part of the French Overseas Network; radio stations on St. Pierre and on Miquelon are part of the French Overseas Network (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  0 (2 repeaters rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .pm

- ## Transportation :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Airports:
  2 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 117 km
  paved: 80 km
  unpaved: 37 km (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Saint-Pierre

- ## Military :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,064
  females age 16-49: 1,069 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 34
  female: 32 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

- ## Transnational Issues :: SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

- Disputes - international:
  none

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