Overseas collectivity of France
Overseas collectivity of the French Republic under Article 74 of the Constitution. Its own statute, set by organic law, defines the powers exercised locally and the application of French law.
National Identity
- Official name
- Collectivity of Saint Martin
- Official name (in French)
- Collectivité de Saint-Martin
- Name etymology
explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours during a visit on 11 November 1493, the saint's feast day
Sources:- Organic law no. 2007-223 of 21 February 2007 on statutory and institutional provisions relating to overseas France (1) - Article 5: Art. LO 6311-1. ↗ - Légifrance - The public service for the diffusion of law
- The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- National flag
- National anthem
- La MarseillaiseThe national anthem of France.1:19
- Title (in French)
- La Marseillaise
- Title (in English, translated)
- The Song of Marseille
- Lyrics
1Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L’étendard sanglant est levé! L’étendard sanglant est levé! Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Egorger nos fils et nos compagnes!
ChorusAux armes, citoyens! Formez vos bataillons! Marchons! marchons! Qu’un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons!
2Que veut cette horde d’esclaves, De traîtres, de rois conjurés? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, Ces fers dès longtemps préparés? Ces fers dès longtemps préparés? Français, pour nous, ah! quel outrage! Quels transports il doit exciter! C’est nous qu’on ose méditer De rendre à l’antique esclavage!
Aux armes, citoyens!3Quoi ! ces cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers! Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient! De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées!
Aux armes, citoyens!4Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides, L’opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La terre en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre!
Aux armes, citoyens!5Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups! Epargnez ces tristes victimes, A regret s’armant contre nous. A regret s’armant contre nous. Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé, Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, Déchirent le sein de leur mère!
Aux armes, citoyens!6Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs! Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs! Combats avec tes défenseurs! Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents! Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !
Aux armes, citoyens!7Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus; Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus. Et la trace de leurs vertus. Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre !
Aux armes, citoyens!Source:
- Official name:Organic law no. 2007-223 of 21 February 2007 on statutory and institutional provisions relating to overseas France (1) - Article 5: Art. LO 6311-1. ↗ - Légifrance - The public service for the diffusion of law
- Official name:The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- 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
- Total area
- 50 km²
- Land area
- 50 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- 16 km(1 country)
- Sint Maarten
- 16 km
Source:- The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- Coastline
- 58.9 km(
for the entire island, shared with Sint Maarten ) - Highest point
- 424 mPic du Paradis
- Lowest point
- 0 mCaribbean Sea
- Climate
Temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November - Avg. temperature
- 26.2 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 25.5 to 26.8 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 905 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 25.6 25 24.4 40 February 25.3 24.7 24.1 32 March 25.3 24.8 24.2 32 April 25.9 25.3 24.7 43 May 26.7 26.2 25.5 74 June 27.5 26.9 26.2 60 July 27.7 27.1 26.3 84 August 28 27.4 26.5 97 September 28.1 27.4 26.5 130 October 27.8 27.1 26.3 138 November 27.1 26.5 25.7 116 December 26.3 25.7 25 60 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Forest24.8%Other75.2%
- Forest
- 1,240 hectares (24.8%)
- Other land
- 3,760 hectares (75.2%)
Source:
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −4.18% per year−1,042 people/yearWorld Rank237thof 237
- Birth rate
- 12.0 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 10.4 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −43.3 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 43.9 yearsWorld Rank33rdof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years20.6%15-64 years58.4%65 years +21.0%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 21.0%
- Share aged under 18
- 25.4%
- Total dependency ratio
- 71
- Youth dependency ratio
- 35
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 36
- Sex ratio
- 0.86 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 1.8% 3.2% 70-79 4.1% 5.2% 60-69 7.0% 7.9% 50-59 6.6% 8.1% 40-49 5.0% 6.7% 30-39 3.4% 4.7% 20-29 4.0% 4.0% 10-19 7.7% 7.6% 0-9 6.7% 6.4% - 2026
- 0.49 above the replacement level for Saint Martin ()2.59 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank72ndof 237
- 1.25 daughters per woman0.25 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +1.6 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 1.6 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −43.3 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 100.0% live in cities23,898 urban residents
- Largest places2022
- Concordia - Spring, Sandy Ground - Baie Nettlé - Terres Basses, Rambaud - Saint-Louis - Colombier, MarigotRankPlacePopulation (2022 estimate)1Concordia - Spring6,1472Sandy Ground - Baie Nettlé - Terres Basses3,5923Rambaud - Saint-Louis - Colombier3,3774Marigot3,3705Quartier d'Orleans3,1756Grand Case - La Savane2,7087Anse-Marcel - Cul de Sac2,3598Agrément - Galisbay1,9909Bellevue - Saint-James1,73910Oyster Pond1,669Source:
- National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, France (2022 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Most of the population is found along the coast, with the largest concentration around the capital of Marigot, as well as Orleans and Grand-Case.
- Ethnic groups
- Creole (Mulatto), Black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asian), White, East Indian, Other
- Religions
- Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
- Languages
- French (Français)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, France (2022 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicShared with France: the President of the French Republic is head of state.Part of the French Republic as an overseas collectivity governed by Article 74, named the "collectivité de Saint-Martin", endowed with autonomy and administering itself through its elected representatives (Constitution Arts. 72-3, 74; CGCT art. L.O. 6311-1).Sources:
- Constitution du 4 octobre 1958, texte intégral en vigueur, as at the constitutional revision of 8 March 2024 ↗, Constitution Arts. 72-3, 74; CGCT art. L.O. 6311-1
- Loi organique n° 2007-223 du 21 février 2007 portant dispositions statutaires et institutionnelles relatives à l'outre-mer (texte adopté n° 675, 7 février 2007) ↗, Constitution Arts. 72-3, 74; CGCT art. L.O. 6311-1
- System of government
- ParliamentaryThe territorial council elects its president and the executive council, and can replace the president by a constructive no-confidence motion; the national Government may dissolve the council when it cannot function (CGCT arts. L.O. 6321-5, 6322-1, 6322-4, 6322-5).Sources:
- Constitution du 4 octobre 1958, texte intégral en vigueur, as at the constitutional revision of 8 March 2024 ↗, CGCT arts. L.O. 6321-5, 6322-1, 6322-4, 6322-5
- Loi organique n° 2007-223 du 21 février 2007 portant dispositions statutaires et institutionnelles relatives à l'outre-mer (texte adopté n° 675, 7 février 2007) ↗, CGCT arts. L.O. 6321-5, 6322-1, 6322-4, 6322-5
- Official websites
- Capital
- Marigot3,370 people(2019)
- National holidays
- 13 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- FriMay 8Victory Day
- ThuMay 14Ascension Day
- MonMay 25Pentecost Monday
- ThuMay 28Abolition of Slavery
- TueJul 14National Day
- TueJul 21Victor Schoelcher Day
- SatAug 15Assumption Day
- SunNov 1All Saints' Day
- WedNov 11Armistice Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- ASTAtlantic Standard TimeUTC−4
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +590
- Internet TLD
- .gp
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- MF, MAF
- Infrastructure
- Airports1 airports
- Form of state, System of government:Constitution du 4 octobre 1958, texte intégral en vigueur, as at the constitutional revision of 8 March 2024 ↗ - Constitutional Council of France
- Form of state, System of government:Loi organique n° 2007-223 du 21 février 2007 portant dispositions statutaires et institutionnelles relatives à l'outre-mer (texte adopté n° 675, 7 février 2007) ↗ - National Assembly of France
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
Economy
- High income
- Trade2019
- Source:
- The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- Industries
- tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
- Income level:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
Cost of Living
Society
- Official tourism site
- Official tourism site
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Homicide rate2016
- 26.9 per 100,000 peopleVery high by global standards
- Crime rates
- 1 offence category
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 26.9 10 2016 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2022
- 3,183.2 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 919
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 80.8 years
- Infant mortality2026
- 7.5 per 1,000 live births
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
Environment
- 2024
- 2.8 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted211thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- waste management
- salinity intrusions
- limited freshwater resources
- over-exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral, and shell)
- water pollution and damage to coral reefs from boats
Source:- The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- International agreements
- 0 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 2 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement not a party UN Framework Convention on Climate Change not a party Kyoto Protocol not a party Ozone layer Montreal Protocol not a party Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) not a party Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity not a party CITES not a party Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety not a party Nagoya Protocol not a party Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands not a party World Heritage Convention not a party UN Convention to Combat Desertification not a party Chemicals and waste Basel Convention not a party Rotterdam Convention (PIC) not a party Stockholm Convention (POPs) not a party Minamata Convention on Mercury not a party Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea not a party High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) not a party MARPOL 73/78 not a party Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Saint Martin (French part) - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval