Page last updated on January 19,

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

Geographic coordinates:
18 4 N, 63 4 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 34 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 235
land: 34 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin

Area - comparative:
one-fifth the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
border countries: Saint Martin (France) 15 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
364 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 1500 mm/year; July-November is the hurricane season

Terrain:
low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Mount Flagstaff 386 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
fish, salt

Land use:
arable land: 10%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 90%
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes from July to November

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states