Sint Maarten

Background

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 Dutch eventually holding the smaller portion of the island (about 39%) and adopting the Dutch spelling of the island's name for their territory.

The establishment of cotton, tobacco, and sugar plantations dramatically expanded African slavery on the island in the 18th and 19th centuries; the practice was not abolished in the Dutch half until 1863. The island's economy declined until 1939 when it became a free port; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded beginning in the 1950s. In 1954, Sint Maarten and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles. In a 2000 referendum, the citizens of Sint Maarten voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, effective in 2010. In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, causing extensive damage to roads, communications, electrical power, and housing; the UN estimated that 90% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.4% (male 4,409/female 4,114)

15-64 years: 66.3% (male 15,158/female 15,496)

65 years and over: 15.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,250/female 3,788)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Languages

English (official) 67.5%, Spanish 12.9%, Creole 8.2%, Dutch (official) 4.2%, Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 2.2%, French 1.5%, other 3.5% (2001 est.)

Religions

Protestant 41.9% (Pentecostal 14.7%, Methodist 10.0%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.6%, Baptist 4.7%, Anglican 3.1%, other Protestant 2.8%), Roman Catholic 33.1%, Hindu 5.2%, Christian 4.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, Evangelical 1.4%, Muslim/Jewish 1.1%, other 1.3% (includes Buddhist, Sikh, Rastafarian), none 7.9%, no response 2.4% (2011 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.)

Major urban areas - population

1,327 PHILIPSBURG (capital) (2011)

Ethnic groups

Saint Maarten 29.9%, Dominican Republic 10.2%, Haiti 7.8%, Jamaica 6.6%, Saint Martin 5.9%, Guyana 5%, Dominica 4.4%, Curacao 4.1%, Aruba 3.4%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.8%, India 2.6%, Netherlands 2.2%, US 1.6%, Suriname 1.4%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, Anguilla 1.1%, other 8%, unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.)

Note: data represent population by country of birth

Dependency ratios

Total dependency ratio: 50.8 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 27.8 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 23 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 4.4 (2024 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.96 (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

5.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

Total: 41 years (2024 est.)

Male: 39 years

Female: 42.8 years

Total fertility rate

1.97 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Population

Total: 46,215 (2024 est.)

Male: 22,817

Female: 23,398

Infant mortality rate

Total: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 79.7 years (2024 est.)

Male: 77.4 years

Female: 82.2 years

Population growth rate

1.15% (2024 est.)

Flag

Description: Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue, with a white isosceles triangle based on the left side; the national coat of arms is in the center of the triangle, with an orange-bordered blue shield that displays the white courthouse in Philipsburg, as well as yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; over the shield is a yellow rising sun and a brown pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield has the motto SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing)

Note: The flag resembles Philippines' flag, but with the red and blue bands reversed; the three main colors are the same as the Dutch flag

Diplomatic representation from the US

Embassy: The US does not have an embassy in Sint Maarten; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Sint Maarten

Capital

Name: Philipsburg

Geographic coordinates: 18 1 N, 63 2 W

Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: Founded and named in 1763 by John PHILIPS, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy

Constitution

History: Previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 21 July 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Sint Maarten but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Amendment process: Proposals initiated by the Government or by Parliament; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority of the Parliament membership; passage of amendments relating to fundamental rights, authorities of the governor and of Parliament must include the "views" of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Government prior to ratification by Parliament

Executive branch

Chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Ajamu G. BALY (since 10 October 2022)

Head of government: Prime Minister Luc MERCELINA (since 3 May 2024)

Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the governor

Election/appointment process: The monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party as prime minister

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Judicial branch

Highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (consists of the presiding judge, other members, and their substitutes); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands

Judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch serve for life

Subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance

Legal system

based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence

Legislative branch

Legislature name: Parliament of Sint Maarten

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 15 (directly elected)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 1/11/2024

Parties elected and seats per party: NA (4); UPP (3); URSM (2); DP (2); PFP (2); NOW (2)

Percentage of women in chamber: 46.7%

Expected date of next election: 2028

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), ILO, Interpol, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO

National holiday

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)

Note: Observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday is Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), and is celebrated on both halves of the island

Political parties

Democratic Party or DP
National Alliance or NA
National Opportunity Wealth or NOW
Party for Progress or PFP
Sint Maarten Christian Party or SMCP
Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement or URSM
United People's Party or UPP
United Sint Maarten Party or US Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Government type

Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Country name

Conventional long form: Country of Sint Maarten

Conventional short form: Sint Maarten

Local long form: Land Sint Maarten (Dutch)/ Country of Sint Maarten (English)

Local short form: Sint Maarten (Dutch and English)

Former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies

Etymology: Explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after Saint MARTIN of Tours because he visited on 11 November, the saint's feast day

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National anthem(s)

Title: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"

Lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS

History: The song, written in 1958, is used as a local anthem for the entire island (both French and Dutch sides)
_____

Title: “Het Wilhelmus” (The William)

Lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown

History: Adopted 1932

National symbol(s)

Brown pelican, yellow sage (flower)

Citizenship

see the Netherlands

National color(s)

red, white, blue

Exchange rates

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1.79 (2024 est.)
1.79 (2023 est.)
1.79 (2022 est.)
1.79 (2021 est.)
1.79 (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

USA 82%, Netherlands 7%, France 4%, Brazil 1%, Switzerland 1% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Economic overview

high-income, tourism-based Dutch autonomous constituent economy; severe hurricane- and COVID-19-related economic recessions; multilateral trust fund helping offset economic downturn; no property taxation; re-exporter to Saint Martin

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.735 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Agricultural products

sugar

Industries

tourism, light industry

Exports - commodities

scrap iron, ships, jewelry, flavored water, liquor (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Antigua & Barbuda 28%, USA 16%, France 12%, Netherlands 8%, Morocco 7% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - commodities

jewelry, refined petroleum, ships, pearl products, diamonds (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Remittances

3% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.986 billion (2024 est.)
$1.919 billion (2023 est.)
$1.849 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2017 est.)
0.1% (2016 est.)
0.3% (2015 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

-$116.693 million (2023 est.)
-$56.984 million (2022 est.)
-$311.463 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$45,800 (2024 est.)
$44,900 (2023 est.)
$43,900 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Imports

$1.489 billion (2023 est.)
$1.32 billion (2022 est.)
$1.003 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$1.504 billion (2023 est.)
$1.375 billion (2022 est.)
$790.938 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Real GDP growth rate

3.5% (2024 est.)
3.8% (2023 est.)
9.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

0.5% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Industry: 6% (2021 est.)

Services: 89.3% (2021 est.)

Note: Figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Introduction