Skip to main content
CountryReports

Select language

ENEnglishESEspañolZH中文HIहिन्दीFRFrançais
Sign In
Saint Pierre and Miquelon flag

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Capital:Saint-Pierre
Population:6,010
Currency:Euro (EUR)
Language:French (official)
Airport

Declare Your Relationship to Saint Pierre and Miquelon

See full leaderboard →

CountryReports Community

  • Studying1
  • From Saint Pierre and Miquelon0
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon heritage0
  • Visited0
  • Want to visit0

Customs and Culture

Cultural Attributes

The culture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon reflects its deep French roots while bearing the unmistakable imprint of its isolated North Atlantic setting. As a French territorial collectivity situated just off the southern coast of Newfoundland, the archipelago has developed a distinct identity shaped by centuries of maritime tradition, Basque and Breton heritage, and close ties to mainland France. French is the sole official language, and residents hold French citizenship, giving the islands a cultural continuity with metropolitan France that is unusual for such a remote community. The legal system, educational curriculum, and administrative structures all mirror those of France, and many young people travel to France or French Canada for higher education. The fishing industry, historically centered on cod, has profoundly shaped local customs, architecture, and community values. Although the collapse of cod stocks in the early 1990s dealt a severe economic blow, the sea remains central to the islands' identity. Annual festivals and community events frequently celebrate maritime heritage, and traditional wooden fishing vessels remain a point of local pride. The architecture of Saint-Pierre, the main town, features colorful wooden and stone buildings reminiscent of small French provincial towns, though adapted to withstand harsh Atlantic winters. The local cuisine leans heavily on French traditions — fresh bread, wine, and cheese are readily available and culturally significant — but also incorporates seafood and influences from neighboring Newfoundland and French Canada. Religion plays a meaningful role in daily life, with Roman Catholicism being the predominant faith. Church feast days and religious holidays are observed with community gatherings and processions. The islands also maintain a small but active arts and cultural scene, including local museums dedicated to fishing history and the Prohibition era, during which Saint Pierre served as a major transshipment hub for alcohol destined for the United States. Despite a small population of roughly 6,000 residents, the community maintains strong cultural cohesion, a sense of French national identity, and a pride in the unique history that sets this tiny archipelago apart from both France and its Canadian neighbors.

Airport

France's Last Atlantic Outpost

View of island

Holidays

  • Bastille Day

    6/14

    Other

Dates of Interest

  • June 14th

What is the food and dining culture like in Saint Pierre and Miquelon?

Cuisine leans heavily on French traditions, with fresh bread, wine, and cheese being readily available and culturally significant, alongside seafood and influences from neighboring Newfoundland and French Canada.

Do

  • Try the fresh bread, wine, and cheese central to French tradition
  • Sample local seafood reflecting the islands' maritime heritage

Good to know

  • Expect Newfoundland and French Canadian influences in the local cuisine

What should travelers know about local customs and daily life?

The islands hold a strong French national identity with deep maritime roots, and Roman Catholicism plays a meaningful role in daily life.

Do

  • Respect church feast days and religious holidays, observed with community gatherings and processions
  • Appreciate the pride locals take in traditional wooden fishing vessels and maritime heritage

Good to know

  • French is the sole official language
  • Visit local museums dedicated to fishing history and the Prohibition era

What cultural activities and events can travelers enjoy?

Annual festivals and community events frequently celebrate the islands' maritime heritage, and there is a small but active arts and cultural scene.

Do

  • Attend festivals and community events celebrating maritime heritage
  • Explore museums covering fishing history and the Prohibition-era smuggling past

Good to know

  • Admire the colorful wooden and stone architecture of Saint-Pierre, reminiscent of small French provincial towns

What should travelers know before visiting Saint Pierre and Miquelon?

This French territorial collectivity off Newfoundland has a distinct identity shaped by French roots, Basque and Breton heritage, and centuries of maritime tradition.

Good to know

  • French is the sole official language and residents hold French citizenship
  • The legal, educational, and administrative systems mirror those of France
  • The community of roughly 6,000 residents maintains strong cultural cohesion
  • Roman Catholicism is the predominant faith

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Travel and Tourism

Currency
euro (EUR)
Time Difference
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Airports
2
Premium Content

Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.

View full travel guide

History

Historical Eras

  1. Early Fishing Era

    1520 – 1604

    Basque, Breton, and Norman fishermen frequented the islands as seasonal fishing stations, exploiting the nearby Grand Banks. The islands were named by European explorers, with Miquelon receiving its Basque designation by 1579. No permanent settlements were established, but the archipelago became well known to European maritime powers as a strategic Atlantic outpost.

  2. Early French Settlement

    1604 – 1713

    France established the first permanent settlements on Saint-Pierre in the early 17th century, integrating the islands into the broader French colonial enterprise in North America. The islands changed hands amid recurring Anglo-French conflicts and served as a base for the cod fishery vital to French commerce. Control remained contested as Britain and France competed for dominance across the northwestern Atlantic.

  3. Treaty of Utrecht Era

    1713 – 1763

    The Treaty of Utrecht forced France to cede the islands to Britain, effectively ending French settlement and leaving the archipelago largely depopulated. The period was marked by diplomatic tension, periodic reoccupation, and the displacement of Acadian populations from Nova Scotia, some of whom sought refuge in the islands. French fishing interests continued to regard Saint-Pierre and Miquelon as vital grounds despite the loss of sovereignty.

  4. Restored French Territory

    1763 – 1816

    The Treaty of Paris of 1763, concluding the Seven Years' War, returned the islands to France as the sole remnant of its once vast North American empire. Acadian deportees repopulated the islands, forging the distinct Franco-Atlantic identity that persists today. The era was turbulent, however, as the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars prompted British forces to depopulate and occupy the islands multiple times before France definitively regained control in 1816.

  5. Prohibition Boom & Fishery

    1816 – 1945

    The islands settled into a stable French colonial identity built around the Grand Banks cod fishery, which sustained the population through the 19th century. During American Prohibition (1920–1933), Saint-Pierre became a major transshipment hub for alcohol destined for the United States, generating extraordinary prosperity. In 1941, Free French forces under Admiral Muselier seized the islands from the Vichy administration, aligning Saint-Pierre and Miquelon with the Allied cause.

  6. Territorial Collectivity

    1945 – present

    Following World War II, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon evolved through several administrative statuses, becoming a French territorial collectivity in 1985, its current designation. The collapse of cod stocks in the late 20th century severely damaged the fishing economy, mirroring the crisis experienced in neighboring Newfoundland. Today the islands balance a developing tourism sector with their enduring identity as the last vestige of French imperial North America and a full participant in the European Union.

Overview

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are a small group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland and Labrador. 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. Saint-Pierre was a site for settlement by the French in the early 17th century, later abandoned under the Treaty of Utrecht, and returned to France in 1763 at the end of the Seven Years War. As well, the islands became a place of refuge for Acadian deportees from Nova Scotia. Saint-Pierre figures frequently in North American British-French relations. As well, it profited heavily from US Prohibition, which did not affect this area, technically part of France. It was depopulated and repopulated frequently, and now remains the last vestige of Imperial France within North America. Like its northern neighbour, Newfoundland, it is a key fishing centre close to the Grand Banks, some of the world’s richest fishing grounds. However, as in Newfoundland, the decline in cod stocks has seriously affected the fishery. As a result, tourism is becoming increasingly important to the economy. As a travel destination, St-Pierre et Miquelon is ideal for those interested in historical and cultural discovery, eco-tourism and the French language. Beyond its history, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon is a wonderful destination because of its mild refreshing climate, its beautiful landscapes, the quality of the air and the warmth of its inhabitants. As a part of the European Union, the area has much in common with Europe, but also with its Canadian and American neighbours.

Timeline of Key Events

  1. 1520

    The islands of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon were baptized the Eleven Thousand Virgins.

    The islands of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon were baptized the Eleven Thousand Virgins by Joao Alvarez Faguendes of Portugal in 1520, the Green Islands by the Corte Real brothers and the Island of Saint-Pierre by Jacques Cartier in 1536.

  2. 1579

    The island of Miquelon was given its name by Basque fishermen.

    The island of Miquelon was given its name by Basque fishermen.

  3. 1604

    French settlements begins.

    French settlements begins.

  4. 1763

    The treaty of 1763 returned the islands of Saint-Pierre & Miquelon back to France.

    The treaty of 1763 returned the islands of Saint-Pierre & Miquelon back to France, and despite the subsequent deportations of 1778 and 1793, the islands were once again returned to France in 1816.

Premium Content

Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.

View expanded history

Interesting Facts

  • 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.

Premium Content

See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.

View all interesting facts

Geography and Environment

Terrain
mostly barren rock
Climate
cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Natural Hazards
persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Current Environmental Issues
recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Premium Content

Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.

View full geography

People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

French (official)

  • French

Population

Population
6,010
Population in Major Urban Areas
SAINT-PIERRE (capital) 5,000
Nationality Noun
Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
Ethnic Groups
Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Education

Literacy Definition
age 15 and over can read and write
Premium Content

Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.

View full people and society

Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
SaintPierreandMiquelon
Full Country Name
Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Local - Long
Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Local - Short
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Government Structure

Government Type
NA
Legal System
French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON of France (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Christian POUGET (since 2023) head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bernard BRIAND (since 2017) cabinet: Territorial Council consisting of 19 members elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held in April–May 2022 (next to be held in 2027); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the council
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 in 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 26 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2013); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 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
Judicial Branch
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Constitution
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Independence
none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
National Holiday
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Capital City

Capital Name
Saint-Pierre
Capital - geographic coordinate
46 46 N, 56 11 W
Capital Time Difference
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

named after Saint Peter, the patron saint of fisherman

Premium Content

Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.

View full government details

Economy

The inhabitants of Saint Pierre and Miquelon have traditionally earned their livelihood through fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. However, the economy has struggled for decades following the 1992 collapse of the North Atlantic cod fishery and ongoing disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and maritime boundaries. That same year, an international arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km, settling a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, though the area represented only about 25% of what France had sought.

Today, the archipelago remains heavily dependent on subsidies from mainland France, which help sustain relatively high living standards for its roughly 5,800 residents. The public sector is the largest employer, and most consumer goods are imported. Efforts to diversify the economy have focused on expanding tourism, particularly cruise ship visits and eco-tourism, as well as small-scale aquaculture, including scallop and sea cucumber farming. Exploration for offshore hydrocarbons has been discussed for years but has yet to yield commercial development, and prospects remain uncertain amid shifting global energy priorities. The territory continues to seek closer economic ties with neighboring Atlantic Canada to offset its geographic isolation from Europe.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
Euro (EUR)

Banknotes

Saint Pierre and Miquelon Money - Front
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Money - Front
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Money - Back
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Money - Back

Budget & Public Finance

Fiscal Year
calendar year
Annual Budget
$60,000,000 (USD)
Economic Aid
$60,000,000 (USD)

Labor, Industry & Trade

Labor Force by Occupation
fishing 18%; industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%; services 41%
Industries
fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Agriculture Products
vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Export Commodities
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Export Partners
US 30%, Zambia 30%, Ecuador 20%, France 10%
Import Commodities
meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
Import Partners
Zambia 62.3%, France 21.7%, Canada 13.2%

Energy

Oil Production
0 bbl/day
Oil Consumption
480 bbl/day
Oil Reserves
0 bbl/day
Natural Gas Production
0 cu m
Natural Gas Consumption
0 cu m
Natural Gas Imports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Exports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Reserves
0 cu m

Communications

Telephone System
general assessment: adequate international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system
Internet Country Code
.pm

News & Weather

Current Weather

Loading current conditions…
Loading forecast…

Latest News

News via Google News

Climate Overview

cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
The population of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is approximately 6,010.
What is the food and dining culture like in Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
Cuisine leans heavily on French traditions, with fresh bread, wine, and cheese being readily available and culturally significant, alongside seafood and influences from neighboring Newfoundland and French Canada. Do: Try the fresh bread, wine, and cheese central to French tradition Sample local seafood reflecting the islands' maritime heritage Expect Newfoundland and French Canadian influences in the local cuisine
What should travelers know about local customs and daily life?
The islands hold a strong French national identity with deep maritime roots, and Roman Catholicism plays a meaningful role in daily life. Do: Respect church feast days and religious holidays, observed with community gatherings and processions Appreciate the pride locals take in traditional wooden fishing vessels and maritime heritage French is the sole official language Visit local museums dedicated to fishing history and the Prohibition era
What cultural activities and events can travelers enjoy?
Annual festivals and community events frequently celebrate the islands' maritime heritage, and there is a small but active arts and cultural scene. Do: Attend festivals and community events celebrating maritime heritage Explore museums covering fishing history and the Prohibition-era smuggling past Admire the colorful wooden and stone architecture of Saint-Pierre, reminiscent of small French provincial towns
What should travelers know before visiting Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
This French territorial collectivity off Newfoundland has a distinct identity shaped by French roots, Basque and Breton heritage, and centuries of maritime tradition. French is the sole official language and residents hold French citizenship The legal, educational, and administrative systems mirror those of France The community of roughly 6,000 residents maintains strong cultural cohesion Roman Catholicism is the predominant faith
What is the capital of Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
Saint-Pierre is the capital and largest town of the archipelago, situated on the island of the same name. It serves as the administrative, commercial, and cultural hub of the territory. Despite its small size, Saint-Pierre retains a distinctly French character, with Gallic architecture, bistros, and a bustling fishing harbor that reflects the islands' enduring maritime heritage.
Where is Saint Pierre and Miquelon located?
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a French overseas collectivity located in the North Atlantic Ocean, just off the southern coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Geographically part of North America, the territory consists of a small archipelago that represents the last remaining French-administered territory on the continent. Its position places it firmly within the Gulf of St. Lawrence region, surrounded entirely by Canadian and international Atlantic waters.
What are the ocean and sea borders of Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an island territory bordered entirely by the North Atlantic Ocean, with the nearest landmass being the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, lying just 25 kilometers to the north. The archipelago has no land borders with any sovereign nation. Its surrounding waters have historically been central to the fishing industry, particularly for cod, which shaped the islands' economy and identity for centuries.
What religion is practiced in Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
Roman Catholicism is overwhelmingly the dominant religion, practiced by approximately 99 percent of the population. This reflects the islands' deep French colonial heritage and the enduring cultural influence of the Catholic Church in French-speaking communities across the Atlantic world. Religious traditions remain an integral part of local life, with parish churches serving as prominent social and architectural landmarks throughout the territory.
What currency is used in Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
The official currency of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is the Euro (EUR), in keeping with its status as an overseas collectivity of France. The use of the Euro distinguishes the territory from its neighbor Canada, where the Canadian dollar is standard. This currency arrangement reflects the islands' close economic and administrative ties to metropolitan France, despite their geographic proximity to North America.
What language is spoken in Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
French is the sole official language of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and is spoken universally throughout the archipelago. The dialect spoken locally retains certain archaic features and regional expressions rooted in the Norman and Basque origins of early settlers. While many residents have some familiarity with English due to proximity to Canada, French dominates all aspects of public life, education, and government administration.
What is Saint Pierre and Miquelon known for?
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is known as the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American empire, first settled by the French in the early 17th century. The territory is also recognized for its storied cod-fishing industry, its colorful clapboard architecture reminiscent of Normandy, and its unique status as a European Union territory on the doorstep of Canada. During Prohibition, the islands famously served as a transshipment hub for American-bound liquor, a history still celebrated in local lore and a small museum dedicated to the era.

Last reviewed 2026

Video LibraryCompareArticlesGlobal ContentActivitiesLessonsRecipesBlogInternet CitationGlossary