The economy of Sint Maarten centers around tourism with nearly four-fifths of the labor force engaged in this sector. Nearly 1.8 million visitors came to the island by cruise ship and roughly 500,000 visitors arrived through Princess Juliana International Airport in 2013. Cruise ships and yachts also call on Sint Maarten's numerous ports and harbors. Limited agriculture and local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported. Sint Maarten had the highest per capita income among the five islands that formerly comprised the Netherlands Antilles.
The economy of Saint Martin centers on tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. The financial sector is also important to Saint Martin's economy as it facilitates financial mediation for its thriving tourism sector. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the US. Saint Martin is reported to have one of the highest per capita income in the Caribbean. As with the rest of the Caribbean, Saint Martin's financial sector is having to deal with losing correspondent banking relationships.
In September 2017, Hurricane Irma destroyed 95% of the French side of Saint Martin. Along the coastline of Marigot, the nerve center of the economy, the storm wiped out restaurants, shops, banks and open-air markets impacting more than 36,000 inhabitants.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.436 billion (2018 est.)
$1.538 billion (2017 est.)
$365.8 million (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
$561.5 million (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$35,342 (2018 est.)
$37,914 (2017 est.)
$66,800 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
$19,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 0.4% (2008 est.)
industry: 18.3% (2008 est.)
services: 81.3% (2008 est.)
agriculture: 1% (2000)
industry: 15% (2000)
services: 84% (2000)
Labor force
23,200 (2008 est.)
17,300 (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 15.2%
services: 83.7% (2008 est.)
85 directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry
Industries
tourism, light industry
tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
Exports - commodities
sugar
gold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019)
Exchange rates
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -