factbook.json/central-america-n-caribbean/rn.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "Christopher COLUMBUS claimed Saint Martin for Spain in 1493, naming it after the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, but it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook Saint Martin in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The border frequently fluctuated over the next 200 years because of friction between the two countries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%). <br><br>The cultivation of sugarcane 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, and 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. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Saint Martin, causing extensive damage to roads, communications, electrical power, and housing; the UN estimated that 90% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "18 05 N, 63 57 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Central America and the Caribbean"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "50 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "50 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "negligible"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "more than one-third the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "16 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Sint Maarten 16 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "58.9 km (for entire island)"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Pic du Paradis 424 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Caribbean Ocean 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "salt"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population is found along the coast, with a largest concentrations around the capital Marigot, Orleans, and Grand-Case"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "subject to hurricanes from July to November"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "<strong>note 1:</strong> the southern border is shared with Sint Maarten, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka as Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the border between the French and Dutch halves of the island of Saint Martin runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared by both of the island's entities "
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "32,996"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "15,791"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "17,205 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Creole (Mulatto), Black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asian), White, East Indian, other"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "French (official), Dutch, English, Guadeloupian Creole, Haitian Creole, Italian, Martiniquan Creole, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles), Spanish"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "24.7% (male 4,039/female 4,100)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "64.5% (male 10,216/female 11,068)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "10.8% (2024 est.) (male 1,536/female 2,037)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "49.1 N"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "33.5"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "15.6"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "6.4 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "34.2 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "33.4 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "34.9 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.3% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "13.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population is found along the coast, with a largest concentrations around the capital Marigot, Orleans, and Grand-Case"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "0.99 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.92 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.75 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "7.6 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5.3 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "81 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "78 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "84.2 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.8 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.88 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "excessive population pressure (increasing settlement); waste management; salinity intrusions into the mainland of the island; fresh water supply is dependent on desalination of sea water; over-exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral and shell); indiscriminate anchoring of boats damages coral reefs, causing underwater pollution and sedimentation&nbsp;"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "15,480 tons (2012 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Saint Martin"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Collectivit&eacute; d'outre mer de Saint-Martin"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Saint-Martin"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours because the 11 November 1493 day of discovery was the saint's feast day"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France"
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "overseas collectivity of France",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Marigot"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "18 04 N, 63 05 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "marigot is a French term referring to a body of water, a watercourse, a side-stream, or a tributary rivulet; the name likely refers to a stream at the site of the city's original founding"
      }
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "F&ecirc;te de la F&eacute;d&eacute;ration, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985), which commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "French civil law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "4 October 1958 (French Constitution)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "amendment procedures of France's constitution apply"
      }
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "text": "see France"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age, universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 10 February 2025)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "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 3 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br><em>2022:</em> Louis MUSSINGTON (RSM) elected president; Territorial Council vote - unanimous<em><br><br><em>2017: </em></em>Daniel Gibbs (UD) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 18 of 23 votes"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Territorial Council"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "23 (directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "plurality/majority"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "3/27/2022"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "RSM and Alternative (16); UD (5); HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin (2)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "43.5%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "March 2027"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 1 senator is indirectly elected to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term, and 1 deputy (shared with Saint Barthelemy) is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term"
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "Alternative<br>Future Saint Martin (Avenir Saint Martin)<br>Generation Hope or HOPE<br>Rassemblement Saint-Martinois or RSM (formerly Movement for Justice and Prosperity or MJP)<br>Saint Martin with You<br>Union for Democracy or UD"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACS (associate), UPU"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France)"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "the flag of France is used"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "brown pelican"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land\""
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Gerard KEMPS"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "high-income French Caribbean territorial economy; extremely reliant on tourism, with severe COVID-19 impacts; near-total destruction from Hurricane Irma in 2017; some offshore banking; import-dependent; duty-free commerce; yachting destination"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "4.9% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-12.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "6.5% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$649.206 million (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "4.3% (2014 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "United States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "gold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "United States 76%, Netherlands 7%, France 7% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "jewelry, diamonds, pearls, recreational boats, cars (2019)"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "0.925 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "0.95 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "0.845 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "0.876 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "0.893 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "68,840 (2012 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "196 (2012 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "fully integrated access; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems (2018)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 590; landing points for the SMPR-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the Saba, Statia Cable System submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".mf; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "48.5% (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Airports": {
      "text": "1 (2024)"
    },
    "Transportation - note": {
      "text": "nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten"
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "no armed forces; Saint Martin Police Force (Korps Politie Sint Marteen)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of France"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana destined for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Europe.</p>"
    }
  }
}