First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions. They attained the status of an overseas collectivity in 2003.

Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

46 50 N, 56 20 W

North America

one and half times the size of Washington, DC

cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy

mostly barren rock

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

fish, deepwater ports

most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island

persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard

overfishing; recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment

vegetation scanty; the islands are actually part of the northern Appalachians along with Newfoundland

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)

adjective: French

Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

French (official)

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island

6,000 SAINT-PIERRE (capital) (2018)

conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon

local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

etymology: Saint-Pierre is named after Saint PETER, the patron saint of fishermen; Miquelon may be a corruption of the Basque name Mikelon

overseas collectivity of France

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

name: Saint-Pierre

geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W

time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 2 communes at the second order - Saint Pierre, Miquelon

none (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790)

history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply (2018)

French civil law

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Thierry DEVIMEUX (since 17 January 2018)

head of government: President of Territorial Council Stephane LENORMAND (since 24 October 2017)

cabinet: Le Cabinet du Prefet

elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 April and 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2022); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior

description: unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats - Saint Pierre 15, Miquelon 4; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 6-year terms);
Saint Pierre and Miquelon indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college to serve a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote to serve a 5-year term

elections: Territorial Council - last held on 19 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2023)
French Senate - last held on 28 September 2017 (next to be held no later than September 2020)
French National Assembly - last held on 18 June 2018 (next to be held by June 2022)

election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party - AD 70.2%, Cap sur l'Avenir 29.8%; seats by party - AD 17, Cap sur l'Avenir 2; composition - men 10, women 9, percent of women 47.4%
French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 1 (affiliated with UMP)
French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ensemble pour l'Avenir 1 (affiliated with PRG); the Republicans (LR) 1

highest courts: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel (composition NA)

judge selection and term of office: judge selection and tenure NA

subordinate courts: NA

Archipelago Tomorrow or AD (affiliated with UMP)
Cap sur l'Avenir [Annick GIRARDIN] (affiliated with Left Radical Party)
Togerther for the Future (Ensemble pour l'Avenir) (affiliated with PRG) SPM ensemble

UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a blue background with scattered, white, wavy lines under the ship; a continuous black-over-white wavy line divides the ship from the white wavy lines; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the blue on the main portion of the flag symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean and the stylized ship represents the Grande Hermine in which Jacques Cartier "discovered" the islands in 1536

16th-century sailing ship

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 of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. The services sector accounted for 86% of GDP in 2010, the last year data is available for. Government employment accounts for than 46% of the GDP, and 78% of the population is working age.

The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector. Trade is the second largest sector in terms of value added created, where it contributes significantly to economic activity. The extractive industries and energy sector is the third largest sector of activity in the archipelago, attributable in part to the construction of a new thermal power plant in 2015.

vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

calendar year

fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts

meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

general assessment: adequate (2018)

international: country code - 508; landing point for the St Pierre and Miquelon Cable connecting Saint Pierre & Miquelon and Canada; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system (2019)

2 TV stations with a third repeater station, all part of the French Overseas Network; radio stations on St. Pierre and on Miquelon are part of the French Overseas Network

.pm

defense is the responsibility of France

major seaport(s): Saint-Pierre

none