World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
Download Publication
North America :: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
(territorial overseas collectivity of France)
page last updated on December 5, 2011
Flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
Photos of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
 
Navigation Arrow view 1 photo Opens in New Window
of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Back to Top
Geography ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
46 50 N, 56 20 W
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 242 sq km
country comparison to the world: 213
land: 242 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
one and half times the size of Washington, DC
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
120 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
mostly barren rock
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fish, deepwater ports
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 12.5%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.5% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
vegetation scanty
Back to Top
People and Society ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
French (official)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5,888 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 518/female 487)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 2,004/female 1,949)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 379/female 551) (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 42.6 years
male: 42.2 years
female: 43 years (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-0.968% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.32 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-9.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
urban population: 91% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
SAINT-PIERRE (capital) 5,000 (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
at birth: 1.042 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 7.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 162
male: 8.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: 79.87 years
country comparison to the world: 31
male: 77.61 years
female: 82.26 years (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.55 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Back to Top
Government ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at the second order
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
French civil law
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age; universal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Patrice LATRON (since 16 November 2011)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Stephane ARTANO (since 21 February 2007)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 6 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council elected by the members of the council
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and four from Miquelon; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held on 19 and 26 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD 16, Cap sur l'Avenir 2, SPM 2000/AM 1
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect one member to the French Senate; elections last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held on, first round - 10 June 2007, second round - 17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRG 1
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Archipelago Tomorrow or AD (affiliated with UDF/RPR list); Cap sur l'Avenir (affiliated with PRG); Left Radical Party or PRG; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP); Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2000/Avenir Miquelon or SPM 2000/AM; Socialist Party or PS; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
UPU, WFTU
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
16th-century sailing ship
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
note: as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Back to Top
Economy ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. France heavily subsidizes the islands to the great betterment of living standards. 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.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$48.3 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$7,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3,450 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 221
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 18%
industry: 41%
services: 41% (1996 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
10.3% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 112
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million (1996 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 189
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
53 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
49.29 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
584 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$5.5 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$68.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6734 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)
Back to Top
Communications ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4,800 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 214
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2 television stations with a third repeater station, all part of the French Overseas Network; has radio stations on St. Pierre and on Miquelon that are part of the French Overseas Network (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.pm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 231
Back to Top
Transportation ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 204
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 117 km
country comparison to the world: 213
paved: 80 km
unpaved: 37 km (2000)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Saint-Pierre
Back to Top
Military ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 1,064
females age 16-49: 1,069 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
male: 34
female: 32 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
defense is the responsibility of France
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All