Saint Barthelemy
Introduction
Background
In 1493, Christopher COLUMBUS named Saint Barthelemy for his brother Bartolomeo, but the island was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, France sold the island to Sweden, which renamed the largest town Gustavia after the Swedish King GUSTAV III and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1877 and took control the following year, placing it under the administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the islanders voted to secede from Guadeloupe, and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2012, it became an overseas territory of the EU, allowing it to exert local control over the permanent and temporary immigration of foreign workers, including non-French European citizens. Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017 and caused extensive damage.
Geography
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates
17 90 N, 62 85 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total
25 sq km
land
25 sq km
water
negligible
Area - comparative
less than one-eighth the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Climate
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Terrain
hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches
Elevation
highest point
Morne du Vitet 286 m
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
few natural resources; beaches foster tourism
Land use
agricultural land
0% (2022 est.)
forest
8.5% (2022 est.)
other
91.5% (2022 est.)
Population distribution
most of the populace is concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island's periphery
Geography - note
a 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) marine nature reserve, the Reserve Naturelle, is made up of five zones around the island that form a network to protect the island's coral reefs, seagrass, and endangered marine species
People and Society
Population
total
7,079 (2025 est.)
male
3,730
female
3,349
Ethnic groups
French, Portuguese, Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean
Languages
Languages
French (primary), English
major-language sample(s)
<br>The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Age structure
0-14 years
13.9% (male 506/female 479)
15-64 years
63.1% (male 2,413/female 2,057)
65 years and over
23% (2024 est.) (male 818/female 813)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
60.1 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
22 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
38 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.6 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
47.7 years (2025 est.)
male
47 years
female
47.8 years
Population growth rate
-0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
9.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
9.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
most of the populace is concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island's periphery
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over
1.01 male(s)/female
total population
1.12 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female
5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
81 years (2024 est.)
male
78 years
female
84.2 years
Total fertility rate
1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.79 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
land-based pollution; urbanization; limited freshwater resources; overfishing
Climate
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Land use
agricultural land
0% (2022 est.)
forest
8.5% (2022 est.)
other
91.5% (2022 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form
Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy
conventional short form
Saint Barthelemy
local long form
Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Barthélemy
local short form
Saint-Barthélemy
abbreviation
Saint-Barth (French)/ St. Barts or St. Barths (English)
etymology
explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo in 1493
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status
overseas collectivity of France
Capital
name
Gustavia
geographic coordinates
17 53 N, 62 51 W
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology
named in honor of King GUSTAV III of Sweden, who was ruler when Sweden bought the island from France in 1784; the name was retained when the island was sold back to France in 1878
Legal system
French civil law
Constitution
history
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
amendment process
amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
Citizenship
see France
Suffrage
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 15 January 2025)
head of government
President of Territorial Council Xavier LEDEE (since 3 April 2022)
cabinet
Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council; there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council
election/appointment process
French president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council indirectly elected by its members for a 5-year term
most recent election date
27 March 2022
election results
<br><em>2022: </em>Xavier LEDEE (Saint Barth United) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 13 votes for, 6 blank votes<em><br><br><em>2017: </em></em>Bruno MAGRAS (Saint Barth First!) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 14 out of 19 votes
expected date of next election
2027
Legislative branch
legislature name
Territorial Council
legislative structure
unicameral
number of seats
19 (directly elected)
electoral system
mixed
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
5 years
most recent election date
3/27/2022
parties elected and seats per party
Saint Barth Action-Équilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy (13); SBA (6)
expected date of next election
2027
Political parties
All for Saint Barth (Tous pour Saint-Barth)<br>Saint Barth Action Equilibre<br>Saint Barth First! (Saint-Barth d'Abord!) or SBA (affiliated with France's Republican party, Les Republicans)<br>Saint Barth United (Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
<p>none (overseas collectivity of France)</p>
International organization participation
ACS (associate), UPU
Independence
none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday
Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag
the flag of France is used
National symbol(s)
pelican
National anthem(s)
title
"La Marseillaise"
lyrics/music
Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
history
official anthem, as a French collectivity
Economy
Economic overview
high-income French Caribbean territorial economy; duty-free luxury commerce and tourism industries; import-dependent for food, water, energy, and manufacturing; large Brazilian and Portuguese labor supply; environmentally fragile
Exports - partners
Spain 57%, Switzerland 24%, France 6%, Ireland 5%, Canada 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities
refined copper, jewelry (2023)
Imports - partners
Switzerland 50%, Portugal 14%, Brazil 6%, Japan 5%, Ireland 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
precious metal watches, base metal watches, jewelry, cars, garments (2023)
Exchange rates
Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2021)
Communications
Broadcast media
2 local TV broadcasters; 5 FM radio channels (2021)
Internet country code
.bl
Internet users
percent of population
71.3% (2022 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2025)
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France