Land area

34 sq km, St Maarten encompasses the southern half of the island of St Martin; the northern half of the island constitutes the French St Martin

Population

Total population: 30,594 (2001 census)

Main town

Philipsburg is the capital

Climate

Sub-tropical

Weather

Hottest month, September, 26-32°C; coldest months, January-March, 27°C (average daily minimum and maximum); driest month, June, 1 mm average rainfall; wettest months, July-August, 90-113 mm average rainfall

Language

Dutch and English (official languages); an English-based creole dialect is also spoken

Measures

Metric system

Currency

St Maarten (and Curaçao) share the Netherlands Antilles guilder (Naf) = 100 cents. The exchange rate has been fixed at Naf1.79:US$1 since 1971. The US dollar is in free circulation on both islands.

Time

4 hours behind GMT

Public holidays

January 1st, Carnival Monday (date varies), Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary), April 30th (Queen's Day), May 1st (Labour Day), Ascension Day (date varies), July 2nd, October 21st, December 15th, December, 24th, 25th and 26th, December 31st (half day)