Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an overseas collectivity of France. In other words, it is semi-autonomous but is also an administrative division of France. It has held this status since 2003. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is close to Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Even though it is administered by France, it is over 2,300 miles away from the nearest point of France – the city of Brest.
This group of islands has a total area of about 93 square miles. According to the last census taken in 2011, the islands have a population of 6,080 inhabitants, making the population density around 64.7 people per square mile.
The population of the islands reached its peak in the early 1900s, nearing 7,000 inhabitants. However, the population declined significantly between 1902 and 1907. The population continued to fall through the 1920s before staying relatively steady since the 1980s. However, the population has declined slightly during the 21st century. The high emigration rate is attributed to the departure of the younger population seeking out educational and job opportunities.
The capital is Saint-Pierre, which has a population of over 5,400 people. Over three-quarters of the population are native-born, while over 16% were born in France. Inhabitants speak French and have many of the same customs and traditions that are practiced in France. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
