Saint-Martin in figures

Located in the Caribbean, north of the Lesser Antilles arc, the island of Saint Martin is a unique territory, shared between France and the Netherlands. Despite its small size, it offers remarkable cultural, economic, and touristic riches. A detailed overview of this Franco-Dutch island.

With a total area of just **87 km²**, Saint Martin is the smallest island in the world shared between two nations. The French part, called Saint-Martin, covers approximately **53 km²**, while the Dutch part, Sint Maarten, covers the remaining **34 km²**.

The total population of the island is estimated at **approximately 75,000**, of which nearly **33,000** live on the French side. Despite its small size, the island welcomes **over 2 million visitors** each year, mainly thanks to cruises and air tourism. Princess Juliana Airport, on the Dutch side, is one of the busiest in the region, with over **1.5 million passengers per year**.

The local economy relies primarily on tourism, which accounts for approximately 80% of the island's revenue. This is followed by the retail and restaurant sectors. However, the unemployment rate remains high, particularly among young people, sometimes reaching over 30% on the French side.

Finally, Saint-Martin is also marked by its cultural diversity: more than **100 nationalities** coexist there, creating a true linguistic and cultural melting pot, between Creole, French, English, Spanish and Dutch.

Saint Martin, although modest in size, impresses with its dynamism, resilience and ability to combine European and Caribbean influences.