Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Airports

total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

Highways

total: 120 km paved: 60 km unpaved: earth 60 km (1985)

Ports

Saint Pierre

Telecommunications

3,601 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 3 FM, no TV; radio communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Agriculture

vegetables, cattle, sheep, pigs for local consumption; fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989)

Budget

revenues: $18.3 million expenditures: $18.3 million, including capital expenditures of $5.5 million (1989 est.)

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500 million

Electricity

capacity: 10,000 kW production: 25 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,840 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)

Exports

$30 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

Imports

$82 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $65 million (1992 est.)

National product per capita

$10,000 (1992 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

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.

Unemployment rate

9.6% (1990)

Area

total area: 242 sq km land area: 242 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups

Climate

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

Coastline

120 km

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

International disputes

focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 4% other: 83%

Location

Northern North America, in the North Atlantic Ocean, 25 km south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Note

vegetation scanty

Terrain

mostly barren rock

Administrative divisions

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Capital

Saint-Pierre

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Digraph

SB

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: Commissioner of the Republic Yves HENRY (since NA December 1993); President of the General Council Marc PLANTE-GENEST (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers

Flag

the flag of France is used

French National Assembly

elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDF 1; note - Saint Pierre and Miquelon elects 1 member each to the French Senate and the French National Assembly who are voting members

French Senate

elections last held NA September 1986 (next to be held NA September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PS 1

General Council

elections last held September-October 1988 (next to be held NA 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

Independence

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

Judicial branch

Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Legal system

French law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Member of

FZ, WFTU

Names

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

National holiday

National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July

Political parties and leaders

Socialist Party (PS), Albert PEN; Union for French Democracy (UDF/CDS), Gerard GRIGNON

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

territorial collectivity of France

US diplomatic representation

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Birth rate

13.23 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate

5.98 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Infant mortality rate

11.72 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force

2,850 (1988) by occupation: NA

Languages

French

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.6 years male: 73.99 years female: 77.55 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1982) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99%

Nationality

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French

Net migration rate

0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population

6,704 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

0.78% (1994 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (1994 est.)