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 ]
land: 34 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 236

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

Land boundaries:
total: 16 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (1): Saint Martin (France) 16 km

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

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November

Terrain:
low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin

Elevation:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Flagstaff 383 m

Natural resources:
fish, salt

Population distribution:
most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg), followed closely by Cul de Sac

Natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes from July to November

Environment - current issues:
scarcity of potable water (increasing percentage provided by desalination); inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage harms reefs

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