St. Maarten's Population Grows 25%, but Seniors Now Make Up Larger Share

(𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 2, 2026).

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten's population increased by nearly 25 percent between 2011 and 2022, but the country is also experiencing a significant demographic shift, with residents growing older and an increasing proportion of the population entering retirement age. Newly released findings from the Department of Statistics (STAT) show that the island's population reached 41,902 in 2022, compared with 33,609 in 2011, an increase of 8,293 residents over the 11-year period.

The figures form part of the 2022 Population and Housing Census, for which STAT released additional reports on November 2, 2026. Census interviews began in September 2022, with final visits conducted in April and May 2023. More than 32,000 individuals participated in the exercise, providing information used to establish the country's population characteristics, household composition and changing social conditions.

Among the most significant findings is the ageing of St. Maarten's population. The median age increased from 35 years in 2011 to 43 years in 2022, meaning half of the population is now older than 43. The proportion of residents aged 65 and older also increased considerably, from approximately 5 percent in 2011 to nearly 14 percent in 2022. This represents a substantial shift in the country's age structure over a relatively short period and carries implications for pension systems, healthcare services, social assistance and long-term national planning.

The population is also concentrated in a relatively small number of communities. According to the census, approximately 49 percent of all residents live in Cul de Sac and Lower Prince's Quarter. This concentration places considerable importance on infrastructure and public services in these areas, including roads, drainage, housing, schools, healthcare facilities and other services required to accommodate population growth.

St. Maarten's cultural and demographic composition continues to reflect its history as a destination for people from throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Approximately two-thirds of residents were born outside St. Maarten, with the Dominican Republic accounting for 9.5 percent of the population, followed by Haiti at 6.6 percent, Jamaica at 6 percent and French St. Martin at 5.6 percent. English remains the most commonly spoken language in households, followed by Spanish and French Creole. These figures concern residents' places of birth and do not necessarily reflect their current nationality or immigration status.

The census also identified changes in household arrangements and family structures. Approximately 31 percent of households consist of a single person, while nearly half of adults have never been married. However, more than one-third of never-married adults reported living with or having a partner, indicating that marriage statistics alone do not fully describe the country's family arrangements. Women also continue to outnumber men, with approximately 84 men for every 100 women in the population.

Religious affiliation has undergone changes as well. The proportion of residents identifying as Roman Catholic declined from approximately 42 percent in 1992 to 26 percent in 2022, while the percentage reporting no religious affiliation increased from 11 percent to 19 percent. The figures point to changes in the religious composition of the population over the past three decades.

The results provide important information for government planning, particularly as the country considers future demands on housing, healthcare, pensions and infrastructure. An ageing population can place additional demands on healthcare and retirement systems, while the concentration of residents in certain districts may require closer attention to how public services and infrastructure investments are distributed.

Although the statistics describe conditions at the time of the 2022 census rather than the population's exact composition today, they establish a detailed picture of how St. Maarten has changed since its previous census. The findings also provide a basis for assessing whether existing government policies and development plans adequately reflect the country's changing population.

The full reports on Demography, Education and Health, including detailed statistical tables, are available on the Department of Statistics website: https://stats.sintmaartengov.org/

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