| Country name | conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy local short form: Saint-Barthelemy abbreviation: Saint-Barth (French); St. Barts or St. Barths (English) etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo's namesake saint in 1493 |
| Dependency status | overseas collectivity of France |
| Government type | parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France |
| Capital | name: Gustavia geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named in honor of King Gustav III (1746-1792) of Sweden during whose reign the island was obtained from France in 1784; the name was retained when in 1878 the island was sold back to France |
| Independence | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| National holiday | Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572) |
| Constitution | history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply |
| Legal system | French civil law |
| Citizenship | see France |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age, universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Serge GOUTEYRON (since 16 December 2020) head of government: President of Territorial Council Bruno MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007) cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council 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); 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; election last held on 2 April 2017 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Bruno MAGRAS (SBA) reelected president; Territorial Council vote - NA |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members elected by absolute majority vote in the first round vote and proportional representation vote in the second round; members serve 5-year terms); Saint Barthelemy indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy (shared with Saint Martin) to the French National Assembly elections: Territorial Council - last held on 19 March 2017 (next to be held in September 2022) French Senate - election last held 24 September 2017 (next to be held in September 2020) French National Assembly - election last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022) election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party - SBA 53.7%, United for Saint Barth 20.6%, Saint Barth Essential 18.1%, All for Saint Barth 7.7%; seats by party - SBA 14, United for Saint Barth 2, Saint Barth Essential 2, All for Saint Barth 1; composition - men 9, women 10, percent of women 52.6%; French Senate - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party UMP 1 French National Assembly - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party UMP 1 |
| Political parties and leaders | All for Saint Barth (Tous pour Saint-Barth) [Bettina COINTRE] Saint Barth Essential (Saint-Barth Autrement) [Marie-Helene BERNIER] Saint Barth First! (Saint-Barth d'Abord!) or SBA [Bruno MAGRAS] Saint Barth United (Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy) [Xavier LEDEE] |
| International organization participation | UPU |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | embassy: none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| Flag description | the flag of France is used |
| National symbol(s) | pelican |
| National anthem | name: "L'Hymne a St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy) lyrics/music: Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI note: local anthem in use since 1999; as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France) |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021
