Map of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: 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.


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Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: total:242 km²; land:242 km²
Comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 120 km

Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone:200 nm; territorial sea:12 nm

Climate: Cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy

Terrain: Mostly barren rock; Lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m; Highest point:Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

Elevation

Natural resources: Fish; Deepwater ports

Land use: arable land:13%; permanent crops:0%; permanent pastures:0%; forests and woodland:4%; other:83%

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: Vegetation scanty


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Population: 6,809 (July 1996 est.) Growth rate: 0.77% (1996 est.); 0.78% (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun:Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women); adjective:French

Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Languages: French

Religions: Roman Catholic 98%

Demographic profile

Age structure

Age structure: 0-14 years:NA; 15-64 years:NA; 65 years and over:NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.77% (1996 est.); 0.78% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 12.82 births/1000 population (1996 est.); 13.02 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.7 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.); 5.83 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.); 0.59 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:9.95 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.); 10.77 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA; Natural hazards:persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
International agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth: total population:76.34 years (1996 est.), 76 years (1995 est.); male:74.76 years (1996 est.), 74.4 years (1995 est.); female:78.25 years (1996 est.), 77.92 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1996 est.); 1.67 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: definition:age 15 and over that can read and write (1982); total population:99%; male:99%; female:99%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Government 1996

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Country name: 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

Government type: Territorial collectivity of France

Capital: Saint-Pierre

Administrative divisions: None (territorial collectivity of France)

Dependent areas

Independence: None (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state:President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) represented by Prefect Rene MAURICE (since NA) who was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior; head of government:President of the General Council Gerard GRIGNON (since NA April 1994); cabinet:Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: Unicameral General Council:Elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000); results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(19 total, 15 from Saint Pierre, 4 from Miquelon) Socialist Party (PS) holds majority of seats French Senate:Elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(1 total) RPR 1 French National Assembly:Elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(1 total) UDF 1

Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation

Flag description

: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts:the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square into four sections (like the Basque flag); 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 on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Economy 1996

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Economy overview: 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 the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 km² to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $10,000 (1994 est.); $10,000 (1993 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Vegetables, cattle, sheep, pigs for local consumption; fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989)

Industries: Fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; Tourism

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: 2,980 (1994)
By occupation: NA

Labor force

Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1994); 9.6% (1990)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues:$28 million (1992 est.), $18.3 million (1989 est.); expenditures:$28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8 million (1992 est.), $18.3 million, including capital expenditures of $5.5 million (1989 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: Calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: total value. $13.74 million (f.o.b., 1994); $30 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodities: Fish and fish products; Fox and mink pelts
Partners: U.S. 58%; France 17%; U.K. 11%; Canada; Portugal (1990)

Imports: total value:$42 million (c.i.f., 1994); $82 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
Commodities: Meat; Clothing; Fuel; Electrical equipment; Machinery; Building materials
Partners: Canada; France; U.S.; Netherlands; U.K.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1_5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Energy 1996

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Electricity
Capacity: 10,000 kW
Production: 50 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 6,013 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Communication 1996

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Telephones

Telephone system: 3,300 telephones (1992 est.); Local:NA; Intercity:NA; international:radio communication with most countries in the world; 1 satellite link in French domestic satellite system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Military 1996

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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Transportation 1996

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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 3; 914 to 1,523 m:3

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: None

Ports and terminals

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Transnational issues 1996

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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs