Saint Pierre and Miquelon facts for kids
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Saint Pierre and Miquelon (mik-Ə-lon) is a small group of islands that belong to France. It is officially called the Overseas Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. These islands are in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, close to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The group of eight islands, including St. Pierre and Miquelon, are the last parts of a huge French territory once known as New France. People living here are French citizens. They vote for their own representative in the French government and take part in national elections. The islands cover 242 square kilometers (93 square miles) and had about 5,819 people in January 2022.
The islands are located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, near Fortune Bay in Newfoundland. St. Pierre is 19 kilometers (12 miles) from Point May in Newfoundland. It is 3,819 kilometers (2,373 miles) from Brest, the closest city in mainland France. A tiny Canadian island called Green Island is 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Saint Pierre.
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Island Names: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The name Saint-Pierre means Saint Peter in French. Saint Peter is known as the patron saint of fishermen.
The name Miquelon was first written down in 1579. It might come from a Basque name, Mikelon, which is a form of Michael. The Basque Country is a region between Spain and France. The nearby island of "Langlade" is thought to come from the French phrase "l'île à l'Anglais," meaning "Englishman's Island."
Island History
Early Days and European Arrival
Archaeological findings show that Indigenous peoples, like the Beothuk, visited Saint Pierre and Miquelon. However, they probably did not live there all the time. In 1520, a Portuguese explorer named João Álvares Fagundes landed on the islands. He called the St. Pierre group the 'Eleven Thousand Virgins'.
In 1536, Jacques Cartier claimed the islands for France. Even though Mi'kmaq people and fishermen from France and Spain often visited, people did not settle there permanently until the late 1600s. By 1670, there were four permanent residents, and by 1691, there were 22.
Changing Hands: France and Britain
Over time, the islands were often fought over by France and Britain. In 1713, France gave the islands to Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht. The British renamed Saint-Pierre to Saint Peter. Some British and American colonists then moved to the islands.
In 1763, after the Seven Years' War, Britain gave Saint-Pierre and Miquelon back to France. This was part of a deal that allowed French fishermen to keep fishing near Newfoundland. But during the American Revolutionary War, British forces took the islands again. They destroyed settlements and sent 2,000 colonists back to France.
In 1793, during the French Revolutionary Wars, the British took the islands once more. They tried to settle English-speaking people there. However, the French Navy attacked in 1796. The islands were given back to France in 1802, then taken by Britain again, and finally returned to France for good in 1814. The islands were empty and damaged, but settlers, mostly from France and Newfoundland, began to return in 1816. Fishing helped the colony grow.
20th Century Changes
In the early 1900s, the islands faced hard times because fishing was not doing well. Many people moved to Canada. During World War I, about 400 men from the islands joined the French military, and many died. This made fishing even harder.
In the 1920s, when alcohol was banned in the United States (Prohibition), smuggling became a big business for the islands. They imported huge amounts of whisky, mostly to be smuggled into the US. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the islands faced economic problems again.
During World War II, in December 1941, forces loyal to Charles de Gaulle took control of the islands from the Vichy France government. The people on the islands voted to join Free France.
Modern Status
After 1945, the islands became a French Overseas Territory. In 1976, they became an overseas department, and in 1985, they gained a special status as a "territorial collectivity." This meant they left the European Communities.
Island Government
Since 2003, Saint Pierre and Miquelon has been an overseas collectivity with a special status. It has two main areas called communes: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon-Langlade. The people living here are French citizens and can vote. Saint Pierre and Miquelon sends one senator and one representative to the National Assembly of France in Paris. The islands also have some control over their own taxes and customs.
France appoints a Prefect, who is the national government's representative. The Prefect looks after national interests, law enforcement, and public order. Since August 21, 2023, the Prefect has been Bruno André.
The local government is called the Territorial Council. It has 19 members: 4 from Miquelon-Langlade and 15 from Saint-Pierre. The President of the Territorial Council represents the islands at international meetings, like those about fishing.
In January 2022, a French Member of Parliament, Stéphane Claireaux, was protested by residents because of new COVID-19 rules.
Defense and Police
France is in charge of defending the islands. The French Navy has a patrol boat in the area. Law enforcement is handled by the French Gendarmerie Nationale, which has two police stations.
Ocean Boundaries
France claimed a large fishing and resource zone around Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. In 1992, a special group decided on the ocean boundaries between Canada and the islands. The islands were given a zone of 12,348 square kilometers (4,768 square miles). This was only 25% of what France wanted, but it helped settle a long-standing disagreement about fishing rights.
Island Geography
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an archipelago of eight islands. They are located off the western end of Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula. The islands cover 242 square kilometers (93 square miles). Only two of them are inhabited. The islands are mostly rocky with steep coasts. They have a thin layer of peat (decayed plant matter) on top. The islands are part of the Appalachian Mountains geologically.
Miquelon-Langlade is the largest island. It is actually two islands: Miquelon Island (also called Grande Miquelon, 110 square kilometers or 42 square miles) and Langlade Island (Petite Miquelon, 91 square kilometers or 35 square miles). They are connected by a 10-kilometer (6-mile) long sandy strip of land called the Dune de Langlade or Isthme de Langlade. The tallest point, Morne de la Grande Montagne, is 240 meters (787 feet) high and is on Grande Miquelon. The waters between Langlade and Saint-Pierre were once called "the Mouth of Hell" because over 600 shipwrecks happened there. The village of Miquelon-Langlade (710 people) is in the north of Miquelon Island. Langlade Island is almost empty.
Saint Pierre Island is smaller, at 26 square kilometers (10 square miles). It is the most populated island and the main center for business and government. Saint-Pierre Airport opened in 1999 and can handle long flights.
A third island, Isle-aux-Marins, used to be inhabited but has been empty since 1963. It is close to Saint-Pierre. Other main islands include Grand Colombier, Île aux Vainqueurs, and Île aux Pigeons.
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3D image of the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago
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Saint-Pierre aerial photo, 2013. Saint-Pierre Airport is at the lower right.
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Aerial view of St Pierre, the capital and largest town
Island Environment
Seabirds are very common here. You can find seals and other wildlife in the Grand Barachois Lagoon of Miquelon. Every spring, whales migrating to Greenland can be seen off the coasts. Trilobite fossils have been found on Langlade. The islands are mostly rocky, with some yews and junipers. Most of the forest was cut down long ago for fuel.
Island Climate
Even though it is at a similar latitude to the Bay of Biscay in Europe, Saint Pierre and Miquelon has a cold climate. It is affected by cold air from the North Pole and the cold Labrador Current. The average temperature is 5.3°C (41.5°F). August is the warmest month at 15.7°C (60.3°F), and February is the coldest at -3.6°C (25.5°F).
It rains or snows a lot, about 1,312 millimeters (51.7 inches) per year, on 146 days. Because of its location between cold and warm ocean currents, the islands often have fog, especially in June and July. Winds can be very strong and change often.
| Town | Sunshine (hours/yr) |
Rain (mm/yr) |
Snow (days/yr) |
Storm (days/yr) |
Fog (days/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National average | 1,973 | 770 | 14 | 22 | 40 |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 1,427 | 1,323.5 | 99.0 | 6.6 | 100.8 |
| Paris | 1,661 | 637 | 12 | 18 | 10 |
| Nice | 2,724 | 767 | 1 | 29 | 1 |
| Strasbourg | 1,693 | 665 | 29 | 29 | 56 |
| Brest | 1,605 | 1,211 | 7 | 12 | 75 |
| Climate data for St Pierre and Miquelon (1991–2020 averages, extremes 1941–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.8 (49.6) |
9.4 (48.9) |
12.2 (54.0) |
13.8 (56.8) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.1 (77.2) |
28.3 (82.9) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26.8 (80.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
15.1 (59.2) |
12.8 (55.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.2 (32.4) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
1.4 (34.5) |
4.8 (40.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
17.1 (62.8) |
19.4 (66.9) |
16.6 (61.9) |
11.7 (53.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
3.1 (37.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.4 (27.7) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
2.1 (35.8) |
5.9 (42.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
14.4 (57.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
14.0 (57.2) |
9.3 (48.7) |
4.8 (40.6) |
0.8 (33.4) |
6.0 (42.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.9 (23.2) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
2.8 (37.0) |
6.8 (44.2) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
11.3 (52.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
2.5 (36.5) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
3.4 (38.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −17.4 (0.7) |
−18.7 (−1.7) |
−18.1 (−0.6) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
0.7 (33.3) |
4.9 (40.8) |
5.8 (42.4) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−9.2 (15.4) |
−14.6 (5.7) |
−18.7 (−1.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 104.5 (4.11) |
98.5 (3.88) |
96.7 (3.81) |
88.0 (3.46) |
101.3 (3.99) |
93.8 (3.69) |
97.6 (3.84) |
101.0 (3.98) |
129.8 (5.11) |
134.4 (5.29) |
132.5 (5.22) |
117.2 (4.61) |
1,295.3 (51.00) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0mm) | 15.7 | 14.0 | 11.5 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 9.9 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 9.9 | 12.8 | 14.4 | 15.3 | 144.6 |
| Average rainy days | 3.03 | 4.07 | 5.17 | 8.83 | 12.87 | 14.60 | 18.50 | 11.27 | 6.33 | 4.13 | 4.70 | 3.53 | 97.03 |
| Average snowy days | 22.63 | 19.00 | 15.25 | 7.36 | 0.89 | 0.04 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.00 | 4.40 | 3.20 | 73.77 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 42.3 | 60.7 | 113.0 | 142.4 | 174.9 | 164.1 | 150.7 | 168.7 | 159.5 | 117.1 | 61.7 | 38.0 | 1,392.9 |
| Source: Météo France (Averages are for the period 1991–2020.) | |||||||||||||
Island Economy
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| Currency | Euro, Canadian Dollar |
|---|---|
| Calendar year | |
| Statistics | |
| GDP |  $261.3 million (2015 est. PPP) |
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GDP per capita
|
$46,200 (2006 est.) |
|
GDP by sector
|
agriculture: 2%; industry: 15%; services: 83% (2006 est.) |
| ▼1.5% (2015 est.) | |
|
Labour force
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4,429 (2015 est.) |
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Labour force by occupation
|
agriculture: 18%; industry: 41%; services: 41% (1996 est.) |
| Unemployment | ▼8.7% (2015 est.) |
| External | |
| Exports | 6.641 million (2010 est.) |
|
Export goods
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fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts |
| Imports | 95.35 million (2010 est.) |
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Import goods
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meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials |
The islands' economy mostly depends on fishing and helping fishing boats near Newfoundland. However, the economy has been shrinking because of disagreements with Canada over fishing limits and fewer ships visiting. In 1992, a special group gave the islands a fishing zone of 12,348 square kilometers (4,768 square miles).
France provides a lot of money to the islands, which helps people have a good standard of living. The government hopes that more tourism will help the economy grow. They are also looking for oil, which could create new jobs.
Farming and Fishing Challenges
The climate and small amount of land make farming and raising animals difficult. The weather is harsh, so plants can only grow for a few weeks. The soil is also not very good. Since 1992, the economy has struggled because there are fewer fish due to overfishing. Also, the Canadian government banned cod fishing, which was a big part of the islanders' lives.
Jobs and Trade
Jobs on the islands change a lot with the seasons because of the weather. Traditionally, people stopped outdoor work like construction from December to April. In 1999, about 12.8% of people were unemployed. A third of the workers had jobs in the government. The end of deep-sea fishing made unemployment worse. In 2010, the unemployment rate was 7.1%.
The islands export very little, but they import a lot. About 70% of what the islands need comes from Canada or other parts of France.
New Ways to Grow the Economy
To help with unemployment, the government gives money to businesses and people for new training. Building the airport in 1999 helped the construction industry. Now, they are trying to grow fish, catch crabs, and farm more to create different types of jobs. The future of Saint Pierre and Miquelon relies on tourism, fishing, and aquaculture (fish farming). They are also exploring for oil and gas. Tourism is growing because the islands are close to popular tourist spots in Canada.
Tourism on the Islands
Tourism is becoming more and more important. The islands promote themselves as "France in North America."
As of mid-2024, Saint-Pierre has six hotels, plus bed and breakfasts and AirBnB places on both main islands. There are also 13 restaurants and bistros on Saint-Pierre and one on Île aux Marins. The islands' tourism office highlights their real French food and other types of cooking.
Island Money
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A 1948 Aluminum Franc coin
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1891 postage stamp
The euro is the official money in Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Before 1890, Mexican coins and Canadian dollars were used. Then, local franc banknotes were used until after World War One. In 1945, the islands started using the CFA franc, which was also used in French colonies in Africa. In 1973, these were replaced by the "regular" new French franc.
Most businesses also accept Canadian dollars (CAD). However, prices are usually in euros, and you will get change in euros.
Island Stamps
The islands have made their own stamps since 1885. There was a short time between 1978 and 1986 when they used regular French stamps.
Island Population
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1847 | 1,665 | — |
| 1860 | 2,916 | +75.1% |
| 1870 | 4,750 | +62.9% |
| 1897 | 6,352 | +33.7% |
| 1902 | 6,842 | +7.7% |
| 1907 | 4,760 | −30.4% |
| 1911 | 4,209 | −11.6% |
| 1921 | 3,918 | −6.9% |
| 1926 | 4,030 | +2.9% |
| 1931 | 4,321 | +7.2% |
| 1936 | 4,175 | −3.4% |
| 1945 | 4,354 | +4.3% |
| 1951 | 4,606 | +5.8% |
| 1957 | 4,879 | +5.9% |
| 1962 | 5,025 | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 5,235 | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 5,840 | +11.6% |
| 1982 | 6,041 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 6,277 | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 6,316 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 6,125 | −3.0% |
| 2011 | 6,080 | −0.7% |
| 2016 | 6,008 | −1.2% |
| 2022 | 5,819 | −3.1% |
| INSEE (1847–1962; 1967–2011; 2016; 2022) | ||
In March 2022, the total population was 5,819 people. Most of them (5,223) lived in Saint-Pierre, and 596 lived in Miquelon-Langlade. In 1999, 76% of the people were born on the islands. About 16.1% were born in mainland France, which was a big increase from 1990. Less than 1% of the people were foreign citizens.
Many young adults leave the islands, often for their studies, and do not come back. Even when fishing was very good, the population growth was limited because the islands are far away, the climate is harsh, and the soil is not fertile.
Who Lives on the Islands?
Old ruins show that Indigenous American people visited the islands for fishing and hunting before Europeans settled there. Today's population comes from settlers from French ports, mainly Normans, Basques, Bretons, and Saintongeais. Also, some French-speaking people from Acadia in Canada and Newfoundland moved to the islands.
Island Languages
The people on the islands speak French. Their customs are similar to those in mainland France. The French spoken here is closer to the French spoken in France than to Canadian French. It also has some unique features. The Basque language, once spoken by people of Basque background, disappeared from the islands by the late 1950s.
Island Religion
Most of the people are Christian, and the majority are Catholic. The local church was managed by the Vicariate Apostolic of Iles Saint-Pierre and Miquelon until 2018. Then, it joined the Diocese of La Rochelle and Saintes.
Notable People from the Islands
- Henry Hughes Hough (1871–1943), a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.
- George Alain Frecker (1905–1979), a politician and university leader.
- Paula Nenette Pepin (1908–1990), a composer, pianist, and lyricist.
- Victor Reux (1929–2016), a politician and teacher.
- Eugène Nicole (born 1942), a writer and expert on Marcel Proust.
- Stéphane Lenormand (born ??), a politician.
- Catherine Hélène (born ??), a politician.
- Catherine Pen (born 1954), a politician.
- Françoise Enguehard (born 1957), an author living in Canada.
- Alexandra Hernandez (born 1981), a singer-songwriter and poet.
- Julien Kang (born 1982), a television actor and model in Korea.
Island Sports Figures
- Patrick Foliot (born 1954), a former ice hockey goalie.
- Denis Kang (born 1977), a retired mixed martial artist.
- Nicolas Arrossamena (born 1990), an ice hockey forward.
- Valentin Claireaux (born 1991), an ice hockey player.
Island Culture
Every summer, the islands host a Basque Festival. It features traditional Basque activities like stone heaving (harri-jasotzaileak), lumberjack skills (aizkolaritza), and Basque pelota (a ball game). The local food mainly uses seafood, such as lobster, snow crab, mussels, and especially cod.
Street names are not commonly used on the islands. People often give directions using nicknames or the names of people who live nearby.
Island Sports
Ice hockey is very popular in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Local teams often play in leagues based in Newfoundland. Some players from the islands have played for French and Canadian teams and on the France men's national ice hockey team.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon has its own football league with three teams. Since 2018, local clubs have played in France's national cup, the Coupe de France. The territory also has a national team, but it is not yet a member of FIFA or CONCACAF.
Island Transportation
Saint Pierre and Miquelon has 114 kilometers (71 miles) of paved roads and 45 kilometers (28 miles) of unpaved roads. Its main harbour is in Saint-Pierre, with a smaller one in Miquelon. The islands have two airports: Saint-Pierre Airport (1,800 meters or 5,900 feet long runway) and Miquelon Airport (1,000 meters or 3,300 feet long runway).
Ferry services connect the islands to each other and to Fortune, Newfoundland, Canada, which is 45 kilometers (28 miles) away. These crossings take 90 minutes. Saint Pierre and Miquelon no longer has any working railways.
Island Ferries
| Ferry terminal | Ferry terminal | Ferry company | Summer frequency (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortune | Saint-Pierre | SPM Ferries | Service 1–2 times per day; no service on Mondays. |
| Miquelon town, Miquelon-Langlade island | Saint-Pierre | SPM Ferries | Service 1–2 times per day; no service on Wednesdays |
| Langlade, Miquelon-Langlade island | Saint-Pierre | SPM Ferries | Service 1–2 times per day; no service on Tuesdays. |
| Île aux Marins | Saint-Pierre | BPE | 6 daytime crossings daily, in summer half-hourly daytime service |
Ferry services run by SPM Ferries connect Saint Pierre with Miquelon town and Langlade. They also connect both Saint Pierre and Miquelon towns with the port of Fortune in Newfoundland, Canada. In the summer, there are more services between St Pierre and Langlade, and between Miquelon and Fortune. The SPM Ferries' Nordet and Suroît can carry up to 188 passengers and 18 vehicles. Jeune France is a smaller ferry used for seasonal local service and tours.
Several cruise ships visit Saint-Pierre. Boats also go to Ile aux Marins. Ferry services to Fortune were stopped between March 2020 and August 2021 due to COVID-19 rules.
Island Air Travel
There are two airports on the islands: Saint-Pierre Pointe-Blanche Airport (FSP/LFVP) and Miquelon Airport (MQC/LFVM).
Air Saint-Pierre provides flights from Saint-Pierre Pointe-Blanche Airport to:
- Miquelon Airport, which is one of the shortest flights in the world.
- Montreal–Trudeau (YUL) in Quebec, Halifax (YHZ) in Nova Scotia, and Saint John's (YYT) in Newfoundland, Canada.
- Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport (YGR), Quebec, during certain seasons.
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in mainland France. Air Saint-Pierre works with ASL Airlines France for this flight.
Flights to Mainland France
For many years, there were no direct flights between Saint Pierre and mainland France. However, in Summer 2018, Air Saint-Pierre started direct flights to and from Paris during the summer.
Otherwise, to travel to France, you usually have to change planes, most often at Montreal–Trudeau. From Montreal, you can fly to Paris and other French cities with airlines like Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, and Corsair International.
Island Car Transport
In the past, Saint Pierre and Miquelon used standard French vehicle registration plates. These were different from the plates used in most of North America. More recently, American vehicles with North American plates are becoming more common, especially since the new car ferry service to Canada started in 2021.
The islands do not use the standard French numbering system for license plates. Until 1952, cars were just numbered from 1. Since 1952, plates have had numbers followed by "SPM," like 9287 SPM. Since 2000, all numbers start with "SPM" followed by a number and a letter, like SPM 1 A.
Road signs are in French and look like European signs.
Island Education
The islands have four primary schools (Sainte Odile, Henriette Bonin, Feu Rouge, les Quatre-Temps). There is one middle school (Collège de Miquelon/Collège Saint-Christophe) with a branch in Miquelon. There is also one government high school (Lycée-Collège d'État Émile Letournel) and one vocational high school.
Students who want to study more after high school can get scholarships to study overseas. Most students go to mainland France, but some go to Canada, mainly New Brunswick.
Saint Pierre has a higher education center called Institut Frecker. It is connected with Memorial University of Newfoundland. Since 2000, the Government of Saint Pierre and Miquelon has run Institut Frecker, with help from the Canadian and Newfoundland governments.
Island Fire Services
There are fire stations in Saint Pierre and Miquelon:
- Both airports, St Pierre and Miquelon, have their own fire services.
- The Saint Pierre fire station, Caserne Renaissance, has five fire trucks: two pumpers, aerial ladders, and a hazmat truck.
- The Miquelon fire station has four trucks: an aerial ladder, a hazmat truck, and two pumpers.
Most of these trucks are second-hand units from North America. However, Saint Pierre got a new aerial ladder from France in 2016.
See also
In Spanish: San Pedro y Miquelón para niños
