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North America :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon Print
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SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
  • Introduction :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Background field listing
    First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions. They attained the status of an overseas collectivity in 2003.
  • Geography :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Location field listing
    Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
    Geographic coordinates field listing
    46 50 N, 56 20 W
    Map references field listing
    North America
    Area field listing
    total: 242 sq km
    land: 242 sq km
    water: 0 sq km

    note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups

    country comparison to the world: 213
    Area - comparative field listing
    one and half times the size of Washington, DC
    Land boundaries field listing
    0 km
    Coastline field listing
    120 km
    Maritime claims field listing
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    Climate field listing
    cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy
    Terrain field listing
    mostly barren rock
    Elevation field listing
    lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
    Natural resources field listing
    fish, deepwater ports
    Land use field listing
    agricultural land: 8.7% (2011 est.)
    arable land: 8.7% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
    forest: 12.5% (2011 est.)
    other: 78.8% (2011 est.)
    Irrigated land field listing
    0 sq km (2012)
    Population distribution field listing
    most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
    Natural hazards field listing
    persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
    Environment - current issues field listing
    overfishing; recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
    Geography - note field listing
    vegetation scanty; the islands are actually part of the northern Appalachians along with Newfoundland
  • People and Society :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Population field listing
    5,347 (July 2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 227
    Nationality field listing
    noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
    adjective: French
    Ethnic groups field listing
    Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
    Languages field listing
    French (official)
    Religions field listing
    Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
    Age structure field listing
    0-14 years: 14.31% (male 395/female 370)
    15-24 years: 8.83% (male 245/female 227)
    25-54 years: 40% (male 1,039/female 1,100)
    55-64 years: 14.49% (male 400/female 375)
    65 years and over: 22.37% (male 513/female 683) (2020 est.)
    population pyramid: population pyramid
    Median age field listing
    total: 48.5 years
    male: 47.9 years
    female: 49 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 3
    Population growth rate field listing
    -1.15% (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 232
    Birth rate field listing
    6.7 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 227
    Death rate field listing
    10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 23
    Net migration rate field listing
    -7.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 211
    Population distribution field listing
    most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
    Urbanization field listing
    urban population: 90% of total population (2020)
    rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
    Major urban areas - population field listing
    6,000 SAINT-PIERRE (capital) (2018)
    Sex ratio field listing
    at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
    Infant mortality rate field listing
    total: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 164
    Life expectancy at birth field listing
    total population: 81 years
    male: 78.6 years
    female: 83.5 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    Total fertility rate field listing
    1.58 children born/woman (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 189
    Drinking water source field listing
    improved: total: 91.4% of population
    unimproved: total: 8.6% of population (2017 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - deaths field listing
    NA
    Education expenditures field listing
    NA
  • Government :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Country name field listing
    conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
    conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
    local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
    local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
    etymology: Saint-Pierre is named after Saint PETER, the patron saint of fishermen; Miquelon may be a corruption of the Basque name Mikelon
    Dependency status field listing
    overseas collectivity of France
    Government type field listing
    parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
    Capital field listing
    name: Saint-Pierre
    geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
    time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
    etymology: named after Saint Peter, the patron saint of fisherman
    Administrative divisions field listing
    none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 2 communes at the second order - Saint Pierre, Miquelon
    Independence field listing
    none (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
    National holiday field listing
    Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790)
    Constitution field listing
    history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
    amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
    Citizenship field listing
    see France
    Suffrage field listing
    18 years of age; universal
    Executive branch field listing
    chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Thierry DEVIMEUX (since 17 January 2018)
    head of government: President of Territorial Council Stephane LENORMAND (since 24 October 2017)
    cabinet: Le Cabinet du Prefet
    elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 April and 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2022); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior
    Legislative branch field listing
    description: unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats - Saint Pierre 15, Miquelon 4; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 6-year terms);
    Saint Pierre and Miquelon indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college to serve a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote to serve a 5-year term
    elections: Territorial Council - last held on 19 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2023)
    French Senate - last held on 24 September 2017 (next to be held no later than September 2020)
    French National Assembly - last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022)
    election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party - AD 70.2%, Cap sur l'Avenir 29.8%; seats by party - AD 17, Cap sur l'Avenir 2; composition - men 10, women 9, percent of women 47.4%
    French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 1 (affiliated with UMP)
    French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ensemble pour l'Avenir 1 (affiliated with PRG); the Republicans (LR) 1
    Judicial branch field listing
    highest courts: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel (composition NA)
    judge selection and term of office: judge selection and tenure NA
    subordinate courts: NA
    Political parties and leaders field listing
    Archipelago Tomorrow or AD (affiliated with UMP)
    Cap sur l'Avenir [Annick GIRARDIN] (affiliated with Left Radical Party)
    Togerther for the Future (Ensemble pour l'Avenir) (affiliated with PRG) SPM ensemble
    International organization participation field listing
    UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
    Diplomatic representation in the US field listing
    none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
    Diplomatic representation from the US field listing
    none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
    Flag description field listing
    a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a blue background with scattered, white, wavy lines under the ship; a continuous black-over-white wavy line divides the ship from the white wavy lines; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the blue on the main portion of the flag symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean and the stylized ship represents the Grande Hermine in which Jacques Cartier "discovered" the islands in 1536

    note: the flag of France used for official occasions

    National symbol(s) field listing
    16th-century sailing ship
    National anthem field listing

    note: as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

  • Economy :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Economic overview field listing

    The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. The services sector accounted for 86% of GDP in 2010, the last year data is available for. Government employment accounts for than 46% of the GDP, and 78% of the population is working age.

    The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector. Trade is the second largest sector in terms of value added created, where it contributes significantly to economic activity. The extractive industries and energy sector is the third largest sector of activity in the archipelago, attributable in part to the construction of a new thermal power plant in 2015.

    GDP real growth rate field listing

    NA

    Inflation rate (consumer prices) field listing
    1.5% (2015)
    4.5% (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    GDP (purchasing power parity) - real field listing
    $261.3 million (2015 est.)
    $215.3 million (2006 est.)

    note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million

    GDP (official exchange rate) field listing
    $261.3 million (2015 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP) field listing
    $46,200 (2006 est.)
    $34,900 (2005)
    country comparison to the world: 34
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin field listing
    agriculture: 2% (2006 est.)
    industry: 15% (2006 est.)
    services: 83% (2006 est.)
    Ease of Doing Business Index scores field listing
    Agriculture - products field listing
    vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
    Industries field listing
    fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
    Industrial production growth rate field listing
    NA
    Labor force field listing
    4,429 (2015)
    country comparison to the world: 223
    Labor force - by occupation field listing
    agriculture: 18%
    industry: 41%
    services: 41% (1996 est.)
    Unemployment rate field listing
    8.7% (2015 est.)
    9.9% (2008 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    Population below poverty line field listing
    NA
    Household income or consumption by percentage share field listing
    lowest 10%: NA
    highest 10%: NA
    Budget field listing
    revenues: 70 million (1996 est.)
    expenditures: 60 million (1996 est.)
    Taxes and other revenues field listing
    26.8% (of GDP) (1996 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) field listing
    3.8% (of GDP) (1996 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 10
    Fiscal year field listing
    calendar year
    Exports field listing
    $6.641 million (2010 est.)
    $5.5 million (2005 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 217
    Exports - commodities field listing
    fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
    Imports field listing
    $95.35 million (2010 est.)
    $68.2 million (2005 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 217
    Imports - commodities field listing
    meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
    Debt - external field listing

    NA

    Exchange rates field listing
    euros (EUR) per US dollar -
    0.885 (2017 est.)
    0.903 (2016 est.)
    0.9214 (2015 est.)
    0.885 (2014 est.)
    0.7634 (2013 est.)
  • Energy :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Electricity - production field listing
    46 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 206
    Electricity - consumption field listing
    42.78 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 206
    Electricity - exports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 190
    Electricity - imports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 192
    Electricity - installed generating capacity field listing
    27,600 kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 201
    Electricity - from fossil fuels field listing
    96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
    Electricity - from other renewable sources field listing
    4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 118
    Crude oil - production field listing
    0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 193
    Crude oil - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 186
    Crude oil - imports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 188
    Crude oil - proved reserves field listing
    0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 188
    Refined petroleum products - production field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 195
    Refined petroleum products - consumption field listing
    660 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 207
    Refined petroleum products - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    Refined petroleum products - imports field listing
    650 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 203
    Natural gas - production field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 190
    Natural gas - consumption field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 192
    Natural gas - exports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    Natural gas - imports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 181
    Natural gas - proved reserves field listing
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 187
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy field listing
    100,200 Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 205
  • Communications :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Telephones - fixed lines field listing
    total subscriptions: 4,086
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75.55 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 206
    Telecommunication systems field listing
    general assessment: adequate (2018)
    domestic: fixed-line teledensity 76 per 100 persons (2019)
    international: country code - 508; landing point for the St Pierre and Miquelon Cable connecting Saint Pierre & Miquelon and Canada; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system (2019)
    note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
    Broadcast media field listing
    2 TV stations with a third repeater station, all part of the French Overseas Network; radio stations on St. Pierre and on Miquelon are part of the French Overseas Network
    Internet country code field listing
    .pm
    Internet users field listing
    total: 4,500
    percent of population: 79.5% (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 218
  • Transportation :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Airports field listing
    2 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 204
    Airports - with paved runways field listing
    total: 2 (2019)
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
    914 to 1,523 m: 1
    Roadways field listing
    total: 117 km (2009)
    paved: 80 km (2009)
    unpaved: 37 km (2009)
    country comparison to the world: 213
    Ports and terminals field listing
    major seaport(s): Saint-Pierre
  • Military and Security :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Military - note field listing
    defense is the responsibility of France
  • Transnational Issues :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Disputes - international field listing

    none