World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
Download Publication
Central America and Caribbean :: Saint Barthelemy
(overseas collectivity of France)
page last updated on December 5, 2011
Flag of Saint Barthelemy
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Saint Barthelemy
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Saint Barthelemy
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
No Photos available for Saint Barthelemy
 
no photos available of Saint Barthelemy
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, Saint Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under the administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity.
Back to Top
Geography ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
17 90 N, 62 85 W
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
21 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
less than an eighth of 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.
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
has few natural resources, its beaches being the most important
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by desalinization of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker
Back to Top
People and Society ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
French (primary), English
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7,367 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 18.8% (male 712/female 675)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 2,779/female 2,342)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 428/female 431) (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 40.4 years
male: 40.6 years
female: 40.3 years (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
at birth: 1.027 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Back to Top
Government ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy
conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy
local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy
local short form: Saint-Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
overseas collectivity of France
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: Gustavia
geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August
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 Philippe CHOPIN (since 16 November 2011)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; 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 for a five-year term
election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SBA 72.2%, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 9.9%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 7.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 9.9%; seats by party - SBA 16, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 1, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 1, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1
note: Saint Barthelemy elects one seat to the French Senate; election 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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Action-Equilibre-Transparence [Maxime DESOUCHES]; Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy [Benoit CHAUVIN]; Saint-Barth d'Abord! or SBA [Bruno MAGRAS]; Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy [Karine MIOT-RICHARD]
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The Marine Reserve (protection of fish); Rotary Club
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
UPU
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the flag of France is used
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: "L'Hymne a St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy)
lyrics/music: Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI
note: local anthem in use since 1999; as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Back to Top
Economy ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon high-end tourism and duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors primarily from North America. The luxury hotels and villas host 70,000 visitors each year with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The relative isolation and high cost of living inhibits mass tourism. The construction and public sectors also enjoy significant investment in support of tourism. With limited fresh water resources, all food must be imported, as must all energy resources and most manufactured goods. Employment is strong and attracts labor from Brazil and Portugal.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7715 (2010)
0.7338 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)
Back to Top
Communications ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: fully integrated access
domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
no local TV broadcasters; 3 FM radio channels (2 via repeater)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.bl; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered
Back to Top
Transportation ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 234
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Gustavia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten
Back to Top
Military ::Saint Barthelemy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 1,495
females age 16-49: 1,263 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
male: 23
female: 21 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
defense is the responsibility of France
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All