Saint Barthélemy is a French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean. St-Barth in French and St. Barths or St. Barts in English are common abbreviations. The island is located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin and north of the Dutch islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
For many years, Saint Barthélemy was a French commune that was part of Guadeloupe, a French overseas area and department. In 2003, the island chose to secede from Guadeloupe and create an independent French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, abbreviated to COM). Along with Saint Martin, Guadeloupe (200 kilometers (120 mi) southeast), and Martinique, the collectivity is one of four territories that comprise the French West Indies in the northeastern Caribbean.
Saint Barthélemy, a volcanic island completely surrounded by shallow reefs, with a land area of 25 square kilometers (9.7 square miles) and a population of 9,961 according to the January 2017 census. Gustavia, the capital, also serves as the primary port. It is the only Caribbean island that has been a Swedish colony for an extended period of time (before the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Guadeloupe came under Swedish rule for a year before the Treaty of Paris). It stayed thus for over a century until returning to French control after a vote. The Three Crowns symbolism from the Swedish national arms is still present in the island's coat of arms. However, the language, food, and culture are all distinctively French. During the winter vacation season, the island is a popular tourist destination, catering to the high-end, luxury tourist sector.