North America :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon

- 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. They attained the status of an overseas collectivity in 2003.
- 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:
  0 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
  240 highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne
  Natural resources:
  fish, deepwater ports
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 8.7% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 8.7% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
  forest: 12.5% (2011 est.)
  other: 78.8% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  0 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
  Natural hazards:
  persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
  Environment - current issues:
  overfishing; 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; the islands are actually part of the northern Appalachians along with Newfoundland
- People and Society :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Population:
  5,471 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 227
  Nationality:
  noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
  adjective: French
  Ethnic groups:
  Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
  Languages:
  French (official)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14.88% (male 420 /female 394)
  15-24 years: 8.99% (male 255 /female 237)
  25-54 years: 41.44% (male 1,109 /female 1,158)
  55-64 years: 13.69% (male 389 /female 360)
  65 years and over: 21% (male 489 /female 660) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  North America :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Saint Pierre and Miquelon. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Median age:
  total: 47.2 years
  male: 46.7 years
  female: 47.7 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Population growth rate:
  -1.13% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 229
  Birth rate:
  7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 225
  Death rate:
  10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Net migration rate:
  -8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Population distribution:
  most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 90.2% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  6,000 SAINT-PIERRE (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 80.7 years (2018 est.)
  male: 78.4 years (2018 est.)
  female: 83.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Total fertility rate:
  1.57 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  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
  etymology: Saint-Pierre is named after Saint PETER, the patron saint of fishermen; Miquelon may be a corruption of the Basque name Mikelon
  Dependency status:
  overseas collectivity of France
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
  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 (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
  National holiday:
  Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790)
  Constitution:
  history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2018)
  amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply (2018)
  Legal system:
  French civil law
  Citizenship:
  see France
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: 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
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Thierry DEVIMEUX (since 17 January 2018)
  head of government: President of Territorial Council Stephane LENORMAND (since 24 October 2017)
  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 23 April and 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2022); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats - Saint Pierre 15, Miquelon 4; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 6-year terms);
  Saint Pierre and Miquelon indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college to serve a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote to serve a 5-year term
  elections: Territorial Council - last held on 19 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2023)
  French Senate - last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held no later than September 2020)
  French National Assembly - last held on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017)
  election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party - AD 70.2%, Cap sur l'Avenir 29.8%; seats by party - AD 17, Cap sur l'Avenir 2
  French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD 1 (affiliated with UMP)
  French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ensemble pour l'Avenir 1 (affiliated with PRG)
  Political parties and leaders:
  Archipelago Tomorrow or AD (affiliated with UMP)
  Cap sur l'Avenir [Annick GIRARDIN] (affiliated with Left Radical Party)
  Togerther for the Future (Ensemble pour l'Avenir) (affiliated with PRG)SPM ensemble
  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. The services sector accounted for 86% of GDP in 2010, the last year data is available for. Government employment accounts for than 46% of the GDP, and 78% of the population is working age.

  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. Trade is the second largest sector in terms of value added created, where it contributes significantly to economic activity. The extractive industries and energy sector is the third largest sector of activity in the archipelago, attributable in part to the construction of a new thermal power plant in 2015.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $261.3 million (2015 est.)
  $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):
  $261.3 million (2015 est.) (2015 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:

  NA

  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $46,200 (2006 est.)
  $34,900 (2005)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2% (2006 est.)
  industry: 15% (2006 est.)
  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:
  4,429 (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 224
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 18%
  industry: 41%
  services: 41% (1996 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  8.7% (2015 est.)
  9.9% (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Population below poverty line:
  NA
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA
  highest 10%: NA
  Budget:
  revenues: 70 million (1996 est.)
  expenditures: 60 million (1996 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  26.8% (of GDP) (1996 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  3.8% (of GDP) (1996 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.5% (2015)
  4.5% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Exports:
  $6.641 million (2010 est.)
  $5.5 million (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  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 -
  0.885 (2017 est.)
  0.903 (2016 est.)
  0.9214 (2015 est.)
  0.885 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Electricity - production:
  46 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Electricity - consumption:
  42.78 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  27,600 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  660 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  650 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  100,200 Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
- Communications :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 4,800 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  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)
  Internet country code:
  .pm
  Internet users:
  total: 4,500 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 79.5% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
- Transportation :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Airports:
  2 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
  Roadways:
  total: 117 km (2009)
  paved: 80 km (2009)
  unpaved: 37 km (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Saint-Pierre
- Military and Security :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France
- Transnational Issues :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Disputes - international:
  none