Saint Martin is a French overseas collectivity on the northern part of Saint Martin island. Its capital is Marigot.
North America and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Marigot; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapSaint Martin’s French territory occupies the northern part of a shared Caribbean island. Hills rise behind coastal plains, beaches and sheltered bays. Pic Paradis is the island’s highest point and forms part of the inland ridge system.
Northern coastal areas include lagoons and smaller offshore islands. These low environments contrast with the wooded and developed slopes inland. The physical landscape continues into Sint Maarten to the south, which is covered separately in the deck.
Saint Martin is warm throughout the year, with maritime conditions moderated by trade winds. Rainfall is seasonal, and Atlantic tropical storms can affect the island.
Short distances from ridge to shore create compact drainage basins. Heavy rain can quickly affect low coastal ground. Mangroves, lagoons and marine habitats provide environmental variety within a densely used island.
The flag of France is used
Rocky shoreline meets the sea on an island northeast of Saint Martin.
Photo: SV Zanshin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wooded hills form the island’s central uplands.
Photo: Emile Traendlin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
French is the official language on the French side of Saint Martin. English is also widely used in everyday communication and commerce across the island.
Haitian Creole, Spanish and other languages are spoken by residents. Dutch has an official role on the neighboring Sint Maarten side of the island.
The island was divided between French and Dutch administrations in 1648. The northern part was administered with Guadeloupe before residents voted for a separate status in 2003. Saint Martin became a French overseas collectivity in 2007. It remains part of France and is distinct from neighboring Sint Maarten.
Tourism, accommodation, restaurants, retail and marine services are major activities. The economy is closely connected to the Dutch side of the island. Hurricane Irma in 2017 caused extensive damage to housing and infrastructure.
tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6,047 | 6.047 |
| 1980 | 8,288 | 8.288 |
| 1990 | 28,224 | 28.224 |
| 2000 | 29,996 | 29.996 |
| 2010 | 36,856 | 36.856 |
| 2020 | 31,786 | 31.786 |
| 2025 | 24,941 | 24.941 |
An overseas collectivity of France. An elected Territorial Council and its President manage local responsibilities. A Prefect represents the French state, and residents elect representatives to the French Parliament.
Three questions about St Martin.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.
