SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
(territorial collectivity of France)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 242 km2; land area: 242 km2; includes eight small
islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and
France
Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn
are windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: arable land 13%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 4%; other 83%
Environment: vegetation scanty
Note: located 25 km south of Newfoundland, Canada, in the
North Atlantic Ocean
PEOPLE
Population: 6,356 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)
Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)
Ethnic divisions: originally Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religion: Roman Catholic 98%
Language: French
Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 99%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1982)
Labor force: 2,850 (1988)
Organized labor: Workers' Force trade union
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and
Miquelon
Type: territorial collectivity of France
Capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France);
note--has been under French control since 1763
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
National holiday: National Day, 14 July (Taking of the Bastille)
Executive branch: commissioner of the Republic
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur
d'Appel)
Leaders:
Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981);
Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Pierre
MARQUIE (since February 1989); President of the General Council Marc
PLANTEGENEST (since NA)
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS);
Union for French Democracy (UDF/CDS), Gerard GRIGNON
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
General Council--last held September-October 1988 (next to be
held September 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(19 total) Socialist and other left-wing parties 13, UDF and
right-wing parties 6;
French President--last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held May 1995);
results--(second ballot) Jacques CHIRAC 56%, Francois MITTERRAND 44%;
French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next
to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) PS 1;
French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) UDF/CDS 1
Member of: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation: as a territorial collectivity of France,
local interests are represented in the US by France
Flag: the flag of France is used
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 March 1989, an agreement between France and Canada set fish
quotas for Saint Pierre's trawlers fishing in Canadian and
Canadian-claimed waters for three years. The agreement settles a
longstanding dispute that had virtually brought fish exports to a halt.
The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from
Canada and France.
GDP: $50 million, per capita $7,900; real growth rate NA%
(1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 8.3% (1988)
Budget: revenues $18.3 million; expenditures $18.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $5.5 million (1989)
Exports: $24.1 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts;
partners--US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal
Imports: $61.6 million (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery,
building materials;
partners--Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 10,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced,
3,970 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets;
tourism
Agriculture: vegetables, cattle, sheep and pigs for local
consumption; fish catch, 20,500 metric tons (1989)
Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $493 million
Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) =
100 centimes
COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 120 km total; 60 km paved (1985)
Ports: Saint Pierre
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways,
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 3,601 telephones; stations--1 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
radiotelecommunication with most countries in the world; 1
earth station in French domestic system
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
