Saint Pierre and Miquelon
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.
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada) Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 W Map references: North America Area:
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 120 km Maritime claims:
Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy Terrain: mostly barren rock Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports Land use:
Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: vegetation scanty
Population: 6,896 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 0.49% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 16.53 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 6.67 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 8.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen) Religions: Roman Catholic 99% Languages: French Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: SB Dependency status: self-governing territorial collectivity of France Government type: NA Capital: Saint-Pierre Administrative divisions:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
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:
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)
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel Political parties and leaders: Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR [leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA] International organization participation: FZ, WFTU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France) Flag description: a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side 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 of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km 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 to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. GDP: purchasing power parity - $74 million (1996 est.); supplemented by annual payments from France of about $65 million GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1991-96 average) Labor force: 3,000 (1997) Labor force - by occupation: fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1997) Budget:
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish Exports: $5 million (f.o.b., 1997) Exports - commodities: fish and fish products, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts Exports - partners: US, France, UK, Canada, Portugal Imports: $66 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.) Imports - commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials Imports - partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: approximately $65 million in annual grants from France Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.98673 (January 2000), 0.93863 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: 4,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994) Telephone system:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 4,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997) Televisions: 4,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Disputes - international: none |
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