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.

Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 W

Map reference: North America

Area
Total: 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

Elevation
Extremes: 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

Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard

Geography
Note: vegetation scanty

Population: 6,966 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.75% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

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

Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Languages: French

Religions: Roman Catholic 99%

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

Population growth rate: 0.75% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.27 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA
International agreements: party to:NA; signed, but not ratified:NA

Infant mortality rate: 8.12 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population:77.13 years; male:75.58 years; female:79 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

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: 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_Saint Pierre, Miquelon

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

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state:President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Remi THUAU (since NA); head of government:President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC (since NA 1996); cabinet:NA; elections:French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president 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 20 March 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 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_UDF 1

Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

International organization participation: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation
In 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

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 growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_$11,000 (1996 est.)

Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 3,000 (1996)
By occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Budget: revenues:$70 million; expenditures:$60 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1_5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Electricity
Production: 39 million kWh (1996)
Production by source: fossil fuel:100%; hydro:0%; nuclear:0%; other:0% (1996)
Consumption: 39 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Telephones: 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

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
With paved runways: total:2; 914 to 1,523 m:2 (1998 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none