Country Profile: Saint Martin

Saint Martin is a unique Caribbean island divided between French and Dutch governance, with approximately 33,093 residents. This overseas collectivity of France boasts a high-income economy heavily reliant on tourism, which suffered immense setbacks due to Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic. The island's geography features a warm tropical climate, stunning coastlines, and limited freshwater resources, while its governance is structured as a parliamentary democracy with ties to both France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Geography

Saint Martin is located in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, east of the US Virgin Islands. It spans an area of 50 square kilometers, characterized by a warm climate with average temperatures between 27-29 degrees Celsius. The island's highest point, Pic du Paradis, reaches 424 meters, while the coastline stretches for 58.9 kilometers.

50 sq km total area.
16 km land border shared with Sint Maarten.
58.9 km coastline length.
424 m highest elevation at Pic du Paradis.
0% agricultural land use (2022 est.).

People and Society

Saint Martin has an estimated population of 33,093, with a diverse mix of ethnicities including Creole, Black, and East Indian. The official language is French, complemented by various local dialects and languages. The island has a median age of 34.3 years, and the population is primarily concentrated along the coastal regions, particularly around the capital, Marigot.

33,093 estimated population (2025).
64.5% population aged 15-64 years.
81 years life expectancy at birth (2024 est.).
13.78 births per 1,000 population (2025 est.).
6.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2025 est.).

Economy

Saint Martin's economy is highly dependent on tourism, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic. The GDP in 2021 was approximately $649.2 million, with significant contributions from tourism, light industry, and offshore banking. The region is known for its duty-free commerce, making it an attractive destination for yacht tourism.

$649.206 million GDP (2021 est.).
4.9% real GDP growth rate (2021 est.).
35% of exports go to the United States (2019).
100% electricity access (2022 est.).
15,500 tons municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.).

Government

As an overseas collectivity of France, Saint Martin operates under a parliamentary democracy. The island's governance includes a Territorial Council, with the current president being Louis Mussington. The legal system is based on French civil law, and citizens participate in elections at the age of 18.

18 years is the minimum voting age.
23 seats in the Territorial Council.
43.5% representation of women in the council (as of 2022).
3 April 2022 was the date of the most recent election.
14 July is celebrated as National Day.

Military and Security

Saint Martin does not maintain regular military forces; defense responsibilities lie with France. The island has a local police force, the Police Force of Sint Maarten, for maintaining security and order.

156 refugees estimated (2024).
No regular military forces are stationed on the island.

Energy

Saint Martin has achieved complete electrification, with 100% of the population having access to electricity as of 2022. The energy infrastructure supports both residential and commercial requirements.

100% electrification (2022 est.).

Environment

Environmental challenges in Saint Martin include waste management, limited freshwater resources, and risks associated with hurricanes. The island's ecosystem is also affected by water pollution and coral reef damage.

24.8% forested land (2022 est.).
15,500 tons of annual municipal waste (2024 est.).

Transportation

Saint Martin features one airport, which supports both domestic and international travel, facilitating its tourism-driven economy.

1 airport operational (2025).

Communications

Saint Martin has a moderately developed communications infrastructure, including mobile and broadcast media, with approximately 48.5% of the population using the internet.

68,840 mobile cellular subscriptions (2012 est.).
48.5% of the population are internet users (2022 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	33,093	Estimated for 2025
Area	50 sq km	Total area of the island
GDP	$649.206 million	Estimated for 2021
Electricity Access	100%	Total population with access (2022 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth	81 years	Estimated for 2024
Birth Rate	13.78 births/1,000	Estimated for 2025
Unemployment	Not directly available	Data not specified
Population Growth Rate	0.29%	Estimated for 2025
Median Age	34.3 years	Estimated for 2025
Infant Mortality Rate	6.3 deaths/1,000	Estimated for 2025