Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001) | Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2003) | |
Administrative divisions | - | none (territorial collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at the second order |
Age structure | - | 0-14 years: 25% (male 891; female 851)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,306; female 2,210) 65 years and over: 10.3% (male 310; female 408) (2003 est.) |
Agriculture - products | - | vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish |
Airports | - | 2 (2002) |
Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
Area | total:
5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island |
total: 242 sq km
land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups |
Area - comparative | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Recent geological explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations. | 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. |
Birth rate | - | 14.62 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Budget | - | revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.) |
Capital | - | Saint-Pierre |
Climate | tropical | cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy |
Coastline | 74.1 km | 120 km |
Constitution | - | 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) |
Country name | conventional long form:
Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands |
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 |
Currency | - | euro (EUR) |
Death rate | - | 6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Debt - external | - | $NA |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories | self-governing territorial collectivity of France |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (territorial collectivity of France) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (territorial collectivity of France) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economic aid - recipient | - | approximately $60 million in annual grants from France |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | 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. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector. |
Electricity - consumption | - | 39.08 million kWh (2001) |
Electricity - exports | - | 0 kWh (2001) |
Electricity - imports | - | 0 kWh (2001) |
Electricity - production | - | 42.03 million kWh (2001) |
Electricity - production by source | - | fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment |
Ethnic groups | - | Basques and Bretons (French fishermen) |
Exchange rates | - | euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863 (1999) |
Executive branch | - | chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Claude VALLEIX (since 9 October 2002)
head of government: President of the General Council Marc PLANTAGENEST (since NA) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held, first round - 21 April 2002, second round - 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council |
Exports | - | NA (2001) |
Exports - commodities | - | fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts |
Exports - partners | - | US 33.3%, Zambia 30.3%, Ecuador 16.2%, France 5.1%, Canada 4%, Spain 4% (2002) |
Fiscal year | - | calendar year |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; 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 flag of France is used for official occasions |
GDP | - | purchasing power parity - $74 million - supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million (1996 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector | - | agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
GDP - per capita | - | purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate | - | NA% |
Geographic coordinates | 12 14 S, 123 05 E | 46 50 N, 56 20 W |
Geography - note | Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 | vegetation scanty |
Highways | - | total: 114 km
paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | - | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
Imports | - | NA (2001) |
Imports - commodities | - | meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials |
Imports - partners | - | Zambia 61.5%, France 21.8%, Canada 13% (2002) |
Independence | - | none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763) |
Industrial production growth rate | - | NA% |
Industries | - | fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism |
Infant mortality rate | - | total: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | - | 2.1% (1991-96 average) |
International organization participation | - | FZ, WFTU |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | - | 1 (2000) |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1993) | NA sq km |
Judicial branch | - | Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel |
Labor force | - | 3,261 (1999) |
Labor force - by occupation | - | fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 est.) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) |
arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 0% other: 86.96% (1998 est.) |
Languages | - | French (official) |
Legal system | the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply | French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation |
Legislative branch | - | unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be held NA April 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5 note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 1 |
Life expectancy at birth | - | total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.82 years female: 80.51 years (2003 est.) |
Literacy | - | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1982 est.) |
Location | Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia | Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada) |
Map references | Southeast Asia | North America |
Maritime claims | contiguous zone:
12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
Merchant marine | - | none (2002 est.) |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force | defense is the responsibility of France |
National holiday | - | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
Nationality | - | noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French |
Natural hazards | surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards | persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard |
Natural resources | fish | fish, deepwater ports |
Net migration rate | - | -4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Political parties and leaders | - | PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP) [leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA] |
Political pressure groups and leaders | - | NA |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2001 est.) |
6,976 (July 2003 est.) |
Population below poverty line | - | NA% |
Population growth rate | - | 0.3% (2003 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | Saint Pierre |
Radio broadcast stations | - | AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) |
Railways | - | 0 km |
Religions | - | Roman Catholic 99% |
Sex ratio | - | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
Suffrage | - | 18 years of age; universal |
Telephone system | - | general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system |
Telephones - main lines in use | - | 4,000 (1997) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | - | 0 (1994) |
Television broadcast stations | - | 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997) |
Terrain | low with sand and coral | mostly barren rock |
Total fertility rate | - | 2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
Unemployment rate | - | 9.8% (1997) |
Waterways | none | none |