Sint Maarten

• Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group;
• Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea;
• Sint Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands

• tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures;
• average rainfall of 150 cm/year;
• hurricane season stretches from July to November

highest point:

250 m SW of Mount Flagstaff summit, 383 m

lowest point:

Caribbean Sea 0 m

total:

40.8 years (2025 est.)

male:

39 years

female:

42.8 years

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.86 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

79.7 years (2024 est.)

male:

77.4 years

female:

82.2 years

• scarcity of potable water;
• inadequate solid waste management;
• pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage

• tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures;
• average rainfall of 150 cm/year;
• hurricane season stretches from July to November

urban population:

100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.)

• one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
• full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010;
• Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

note: the other three constituent countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are the Netherlands , Aruba , and Curacao

name:

Philipsburg

geographic coordinates:

18 1 N, 63 2 W

time difference:

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

founded and named in 1763 by John PHILIPS, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy

history:

previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 21 July 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Sint Maarten but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

amendment process:

• proposals initiated by the Government or by Parliament;
• passage requires at least a two-thirds majority of the Parliament membership;
• passage of amendments relating to fundamental rights, authorities of the governor and of Parliament must include the "views" of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Government prior to ratification by Parliament

chief of state:

King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Ajamu G. BALY (since 10 October 2022)

head of government:

Prime Minister Luc MERCELINA (since 3 May 2024)

cabinet:

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the governor

election/appointment process:

• the monarch is hereditary;
• governor appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term;
• following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party as prime minister

legislature name:

Parliament of Sint Maarten

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

15 (directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

1/11/2024

parties elected and seats per party:

• NA (4);
• UPP (3);
• URSM (2);
• DP (2);
• PFP (2);
• NOW (2)

percentage of women in chamber:

46.7%

expected date of next election:

2028

highest court(s):

• Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (consists of the presiding judge, other members, and their substitutes);
• final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands

judge selection and term of office:

Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch serve for life

subordinate courts:

Courts in First Instance

• Democratic Party or DP
• National Alliance or NA
• National Opportunity Wealth or NOW
• Party for Progress or PFP
• Sint Maarten Christian Party or SMCP
• Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement or URSM
• United People's Party or UPP
• United Sint Maarten Party or US Party

description:

• two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue, with a white isosceles triangle based on the left side;
• the national coat of arms is in the center of the triangle, with an orange-bordered blue shield that displays the white courthouse in Philipsburg, as well as yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right;
• over the shield is a yellow rising sun and a brown pelican in flight;
• a yellow scroll below the shield has the motto SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing)

note: the flag resembles Philippines' flag, but with the red and blue bands reversed; the three main colors are the same as the Dutch flag

title:

"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"

lyrics/music:

Gerard KEMPS

history:

the song, written in 1958, is used as a local anthem for the entire island (both French and Dutch sides); _____

title:

“Het Wilhelmus” (The William)

lyrics/music:

Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown

history:

adopted 1932

• high-income, tourism-based Dutch autonomous constituent economy;
• severe hurricane- and COVID-19-related economic recessions;
• multilateral trust fund helping offset economic downturn;
• no property taxation;
• re-exporter to Saint Martin

total ports:

2 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

2

very small:

0

ports with oil terminals:

1

key ports:

Coles Bay Oil Terminal, Philipsburg

• defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
• the KPSM is supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB))

tier rating:

• Tier 3 — Sint Maarten does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Sint Maarten remained on Tier 3;
• for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/sint-maarten/