Location:
Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin lies east of the US Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates:
18 05 N, 63 57 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 54.4 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 54.4 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: negligible
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 232

Area - comparative:
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 16 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (1): Sint Maarten 16 km

Coastline:
58.9 km (for entire island)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Climate:
temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November

Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m

Natural resources:
salt

Population - distribution:
most of the population is found along the coast, with a largest concentrations around the capital Marigot, Orleans, and Grand-Case

Natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes from July to November

Environment - current issues:
freshwater supply is dependent on desalination of sea water

Geography - note:
the southern border is shared with Sint Maarten, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states