Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Saint Martin instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

live 3.8 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Saint Martin, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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Life

have 40.7% more children

In French Polynesia, there are approximately 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Saint Martin, there are 15.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 52.5% more likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Saint Martin, on the other hand, 6.7 children do as of 2022.

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Basic Needs

be 33.3% less likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Saint Martin, about 48.5% do as of 2022.

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Geography

see 97.7% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Saint Martin, that number is 59 km.

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Sources: The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Bank (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: French Polynesia vs. Saint Martin

Size Comparison · See true size
French Polynesia is about 77 times bigger than Saint Martin.
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Saint Martin: At a glance

Saint Martin is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 54 sq km. Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane introduced African slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2010, the southern Dutch portion of the island became the independent nation of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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How big is Saint Martin compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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