World Factbook
Saint Barthélemy
Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Barthélemy
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
the flag of France is used
Capital
name
Gustavia
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
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
17 53 N, 62 51 W
Suffrage
18 years of age, universal
Citizenship
see France
Constitution
history
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
amendment process
amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
Country name
etymology
explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo in 1493
abbreviation
Saint-Barth (French)/ St. Barts or St. Barths (English)
local long form
Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Barthélemy
local short form
Saint-Barthélemy
conventional long form
Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy
conventional short form
Saint Barthelemy
Independence
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Legal system
French civil law
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Executive branch
cabinet
Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council; there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council
chief of state
President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 15 January 2025)
election results
2022: Xavier LEDEE (Saint Barth United) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 13 votes for, 6 blank votes 2017: Bruno MAGRAS (Saint Barth First!) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 14 out of 19 votes
head of government
President of Territorial Council Xavier LEDEE (since 3 April 2022)
most recent election date
27 March 2022
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
expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
note 1: local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572)
note 2: often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, France's national celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789 and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are la Fête nationale (National Holiday) and le Quatorze Juillet (14th of July)
Dependency status
overseas collectivity of France
Political parties
All for Saint Barth (Tous pour Saint-Barth) Saint Barth Action Equilibre Saint Barth First! (Saint-Barth d'Abord!) or SBA (affiliated with France's Republican party, Les Republicans) Saint Barth United (Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy)
Legislative branch
note
note: 1 senator is indirectly elected to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term, and 1 deputy (shared with Saint Martin) is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a five-year term
term in office
5 years
number of seats
19 (directly elected)
electoral system
mixed
legislature name
Territorial Council
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
3/27/2022
expected date of next election
2027
parties elected and seats per party
Saint Barth Action-Équilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy (13); SBA (6)
National anthem(s)
title
"La Marseillaise"
history
official anthem, as a French collectivity
lyrics/music
Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National symbol(s)
pelican
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (overseas collectivity of France)
International organization participation
ACS (associate), UPU