UN analysis cites IOM estimate that migrants make up 37% of St. Maarten population

The United Nations’ 2026 Common Country Analysis for St. Maarten says migrants account for about 37% of residents, citing the International Organization for Migration’s 2023 Migration Profile: Sint Maarten 2023. The UN estimates St. Maarten’s population at about 42,000 in 2024 and describes the country as a destination and transit point for regional migration.

The analysis identifies the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Guyana as the main countries of origin among migrants. It says about 45% of migrants are from the Dominican Republic, 30% from Haiti, 10% from Jamaica and five percent from Guyana. The UN says migrants work in construction, tourism, domestic services and retail, and that only 58% of migrant workers are formally registered.

According to the UN, about one-third of children living in migrant households lack access to early-childhood education. It says migrants can face barriers to legal status, formal employment, healthcare, education and social insurance. The report also says about 70% of residents are covered through SZV, while migrants and informal workers remain largely uninsured.

The UN notes that St. Maarten’s Migration Policy Framework for 2022-2027 was developed with IOM support. It says implementation has been slow because of administrative capacity limitations and political sensitivities involving the Netherlands.