Statistical information Saint-Pierre and Miquelon 1997

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 E
Map reference:
North AmericaAreaTotal: total:242 km²; land:242 km²; water:0 km²; note:includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Comparative: 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
ElevationExtremes: lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m; highest point:Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: arable land:13%; permanent crops:NA%; permanent pastures:NA%; forests and woodland:4%; other:83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
GeographyNote: vegetation scanty
top of pagePopulation: 6,862 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 0.76% (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun:Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women); adjective:French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Languages: French
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%
Demographic profileAge structure: 0-14 years:NA; 15-64 years:NA; 65 years and over:NA
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.76% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 12.63 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
Air pollutantsSex ratio: at birth:NA male(s)/female; under 15 years:NA male(s)/female; 15-64 years:NA male(s)/female; 65 years and over:NA male(s)/female; total population:NA male(s)/female
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 9.26 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population:76.64 years; male:75.07 years; female:78.53 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: definition:age 15 and over can read and write; total population:99%; male:99%; female:99% (1982 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry 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: NA
Capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France); note:there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by the US Government, but there are two communes - St. Pierre, Miquelon
Dependent areasIndependence: 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 with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state:President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Francois CARENCO (since NA); head of government:President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC (since NA 1996); cabinet:NA; elections:prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms); elections:elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000); election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 15, other 4; note:Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - UDF 73.78%; seats by party - UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (territorial collectivity of France)
From the us: none (territorial collectivity of France)
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; 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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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 parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 14,800 metric tons (1994)
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: total:2,980 (1994); by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate: 9.3% (1995)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$28 million; expenditures:$28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8 million (1992 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$5 million (f.o.b., 1995); commodities:fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts; partners:US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)
Imports: total value:$70.2 million (c.i.f., 1995); commodities:meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials; partners:Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $N/A
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: NA kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 3,650 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic:NA; international:radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3 (1996 est.)
With paved runways: total:3; 1,524 to 2,437 m:1; 914 to 1,523 m:2
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France; in 1992 an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone area of 12,348 km² to settle the dispute
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs