World Factbook
Saint Martin
Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
the flag of France is used
Capital
name
Marigot
etymology
the name is taken from the French word marigot , meaning "backwater" or "swampy area;" it probably comes from the original fishing village's location next to a water-logged area on a lagoon
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
18 04 N, 63 05 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 after Saint MARTIN of Tours during a visit on 11 November 1493, the saint's feast day
local long form
Collectivité d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
local short form
Saint-Martin
conventional long form
Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin
conventional short form
Saint Martin
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, as well as an advisory economic, social, and cultural council
chief of state
President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 10 February 2025)
election results
2022: Louis MUSSINGTON (RSM) elected president; Territorial Council vote - unanimous 2017: Daniel Gibbs (UD) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 18 of 23 votes
head of government
President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022)
most recent election date
3 April 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 French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council 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 Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985); the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island
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
note: the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU
Political parties
Alternative Future Saint Martin (Avenir Saint Martin) Generation Hope or HOPE Rassemblement Saint-Martinois or RSM (formerly Movement for Justice and Prosperity or MJP) Saint Martin with You Union for Democracy or UD
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 Barthelemy) is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term
term in office
5 years
number of seats
23 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Territorial Council
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
3/27/2022
expected date of next election
March 2027
percentage of women in chamber
43.5%
parties elected and seats per party
RSM and Alternative (16); UD (5); HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin (2)
National anthem(s)
title
"La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
history
official anthem, as a French collectivity
lyrics/music
Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National symbol(s)
brown 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