Va-PoReg Country Report Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1900–2025

Starting in the late 17th century, Saint Pierre and Miquelon faced English attacks, causing the French settlers to leave the islands. The British held control from 1713 to 1763, after which France regained ownership. However, when France joined the American Revolutionary War against Britain, the British launched an attack, leading to the deportation of the French settlers. Over the next 38 years, Saint Pierre and Miquelon changed hands several times between France and Great Britain. The islands endured ongoing invasions, the voluntary or forced removal of residents, and upheaval connected to the French Revolution. On 05/30/1814, the islands were finally ceded to France by the Treaty of Paris. During the War of the Seventh Coalition, the islands were occupied by the British temporarily, but in 1815, following Napoleon’s second abdication, France ultimately regained permanent control of the islands.¹ LIED does not treat Saint Pierre and Miquelon in its data.

On this date, the colony attained the status of a French Overseas Territory. ² On 07/19/1976 the territory once again changed its status to that of an overseas department.³

Saint Pierre and Miquelon acquired a unique status as an overseas collectivity (COM) in March 2003. Saint Pierre and Miquelon gained the right to vote for both legislative and executive powers and is represented in the French Senate and Assembly. However, a representative of the French state oversees these institutions and has the authority to postpone legislative decisions, dissolve the parliament or the executive, and establish an interim government. Important policy areas, such as foreign affairs and security policy, are determined by France.⁴ The autonomy rights, representation in the French Parliament, and limited sovereignty make it difficult to categorize the regime. Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as well as the other overseas collectivities, represents a special case. Due to its higher degree of autonomy compared to other French administrative zones, such as the départements et régions d’outre-mer, the region cannot be classified as an Indirect Rule Colonial Regime. Instead, it can be categorized as a semi-sovereign electoral democracy. It is considered defective because, due to France’s position, these territories do not possess full sovereignty. FH, LIED and V-Dem do not provide data for Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Electoral Democracy [semi-sovereign, external affairs under France, Liberal Democracy ] as of 07/01/2025 continued.