MAF Saint Martin (French part) profile

Saint Martin operates as a French overseas collectivity with a locally elected Territorial Council and a prefect representing the state. Governance blends local autonomy with central oversight, but fiscal capacity remains limited and depends on state transfers and regional funding. This structure creates gaps in rapid policy implementation and project delivery. Cross border cooperation with the Dutch side exists, yet jurisdictional fragmentation complicates shared issues such as security, urban planning, and public services. Crisis management for natural disasters is central to governance, but preparedness and funding are uneven, leaving the territory exposed to recurrent shocks. The legal framework ties Saint Martin to French law while granting local competences in administration and development, producing uneven policy outcomes across sectors.

Colonial history Divided between French and Dutch colonizers in the 17th century
Former colonizer France and the Netherlands
Government type Overseas collectivity of France
Legal system French civil law system
Political stability Generally stable

The economy hinges on tourism and related services, with concentration in a few hubs that makes growth highly seasonal. This creates volatility and unemployment pressure, especially for youth. Diversification is constrained by the island’s size, geography, and regulatory complexity, while dependence on imports keeps consumer prices high and exposes residents to supply disruptions. Cross-border activity with the Dutch side adds some resilience, but policy alignment and border controls can hinder smooth commerce. Public investment is constrained by limited fiscal space, complicating infrastructure upgrades. Opportunities exist in sustainable tourism, cultural and artisanal sectors, and renewable energy integration, but unlocking them requires stable policy support, capital, and capacity to manage environmental and social impacts.

Currency name Euro
Economic system Mixed economy
Informal economy presence Present, particularly in tourism-related services
Key industries Tourism, construction, retail, and services
Trade orientation Imports primarily from Europe and the US

Saint Martin sits on a small Caribbean island exposed to tropical storms and rising sea levels. The geographic setting makes beaches, resorts, and coastal infrastructure vulnerable to extreme weather and erosion. Freshwater resources are limited, and drought conditions can strain supply, while coral reefs and mangroves provide critical protection but face pressure from warming seas and pollution. Development pressures threaten fragile ecosystems and increase waste generation. Environmental management depends on coordination across jurisdictions and with France, but enforcement and monitoring capabilities are uneven, limiting the effectiveness of protected areas and pollution controls.

Bordering countries Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
Climate type Tropical maritime
Continent North America
Environmental Issues Coastal erosion, water pollution
Landlocked No
Natural Hazards Hurricanes, tropical storms
Natural resources Sand, limestone, tourism
Terrain type Hilly and coastal

The population is diverse, with long-standing residents, migrants, and a network of cross-border ties with the Dutch side. Social services face demand pressures from tourism-driven gains and from housing shortages, with gaps in healthcare, education, and social housing that can widen inequalities. Youth employment and access to opportunities pose challenges for social cohesion, especially in economically vulnerable neighborhoods. Crime and security concerns linked to tourism, smuggling, and transnational flows require coordinated responses from island authorities and national institutions. Cultural identity remains strong, but social integration policies need to address vulnerability among disadvantaged groups and ensure equitable access to services.

Cultural heritage Rich blend of French, Dutch, and Caribbean cultures
Driving side Right
Education system type Public and private education systems, following French educational standards
Ethnic composition Diverse, with a mix of ethnicities including Creole, Afro-Caribbean, and European descent
Family structure Nuclear and extended families are common
Healthcare model Universal healthcare system
Major religions Christianity, with a presence of other religions
Official languages French

Infrastructure centers on the international airport, port facilities, and road networks concentrated around principal towns. The system is vulnerable to hurricane impact, with recurrent disruptions to power, water, and communications. Energy depends largely on imported fuels, which introduces price and supply risks; local generation exists but is limited, and a shift toward renewable sources is ongoing but gradual. Water and wastewater systems face capacity and resilience challenges, especially after storms and during droughts. Connectivity has improved through better telecommunications and digital services, yet digital literacy and affordability remain uneven. Public services and government operations benefit from digitization but require ongoing upgrades to enhance resilience, efficiency, and cross-border coordination with the Dutch side.

Internet censorship level Low
Tech innovation level Moderate
Transport system type Road and ferry transport, limited public transportation

Development indicators

Indicator Year Value Rank 5Y Rank Change
Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) 2023 17.1 90 0
Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) 2023 9.28 47 -136
GDP per capita (current US$) 2021 21,668 59
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 2023 80.2 50 +3
Net migration 2024 -1,424 114 -10
Population, total 2024 26,129 213 0

Demography and Health

In 2023, Saint Martin (French part) shows a crude birth rate of 17.1 births per 1,000 people and a crude death rate of 9.28 deaths per 1,000 people, indicating a natural increase of about 7.8 per 1,000 residents, all else equal. Life expectancy at birth stands at 80.2 years in 2023, ranking around 50th in the dataset, which reflects relatively favorable longevity for a small Caribbean territory. The total population in 2024 is reported as 26,129, with net migration totaling −1,424 people in 2024 (rank 114). This pattern suggests that while births contribute to population growth, outward migration reduces the overall population, a dynamic that is particularly impactful in a small population base. Roughly, the negative migration translates to about −54 migrants per 1,000 residents, underscoring how migration can substantially influence demographics, labor supply, and the demand for health and social services despite a modest natural increase. Taken together, these figures imply a demographic profile characterized by stable longevity, modest natural growth, and a meaningful role for migration in shaping population size and structure.

Economy, Trade and Investment

The dataset records a GDP per capita of 21,668 current US$ for 2021, with a rank of 59, signaling a relatively higher income level per resident compared with many similarly sized economies. This level of per‑capita GDP can reflect the island’s economic structure, likely anchored by tourism, services, and connections to the broader French economy and European markets, though the data provide no breakdown of sectors, employment, or price levels. The current-US$ measure captures nominal output per person but does not fully convey living costs, income distribution, or the sustainability of revenue sources, particularly in a tourism‑dependent environment. The absence of multiple trade, investment, and sectoral indicators in the data limits assessment of openness, diversification, foreign direct investment, or resilience to external shocks, which are important for understanding long-run economic performance in a small, globally connected territory.

Trade and Investment

No explicit trade or investment indicators are provided in the data. While the GDP per capita figure offers a proxy for overall economic output, it does not reveal export structure, trade balances, investment inflows or outflows, or the level of integration with regional and global markets. Given Saint Martin’s geography and ties to France and the EU, trade and investment dynamics would typically matter for tourism services, retail, and infrastructure financing; however, without concrete data on trade volumes, import‑export composition, or investment projects, it is not possible to gauge the trajectory of trade openness or investment sustainability from these figures alone.

Governance and Institutions

The data set provides no governance, institutions, or public‑policy indicators. As a result, there is no evidence here to evaluate rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, or public financial management for Saint Martin (French part). Any assessment of institutional capacity would require indicators such as fiscal transparency, bureaucratic efficiency, governance transparency, or civil service metrics. Inferences about governance would thus be speculative based solely on the available data; future analysis would benefit from including institutional quality indicators alongside the demography and macroeconomic measures already presented.

Infrastructure and Technology

There are no infrastructure or technology indicators in the dataset. While the population size and geographic characteristics of Saint Martin imply ongoing needs for reliable transportation, utilities, digital connectivity, and public services, the absence of data on roads, ports, airports, energy supply, broadband penetration, or ICT use prevents an assessment of the infrastructure and technological backbone supporting residents and visitors. Incorporating such indicators would help illuminate how infrastructure quality and digital capabilities contribute to service delivery, tourism resilience, and economic performance in a small island context.

Environment and Sustainability

Environment and sustainability metrics are not included in the data. As a small island territory, Saint Martin faces unique environmental considerations—including resource constraints and the pressures of tourism—yet the dataset provides no information on natural resource management, environmental quality, climate resilience, or sustainability progress. Without indicators on emissions, water security, waste management, biodiversity, or adaptation planning, it is not possible to evaluate environmental performance or progress toward sustainability targets. Adding environmental indicators would enable a more comprehensive view of how ecological stewardship and climate adaptation intersect with population dynamics and economic activity in Saint Martin.