Eastern Caribbean, Leeward Islands.

GMT - 4.

13 sq km (5 sq miles).

1,500 (estimate 2007).

115.4 per sq km.

The Bottom.

Saba is one of three Windward Islands in the Netherlands Antilles. However, geographically it is part of the Leeward Group of the Lesser Antilles, lying 265km (165 miles) east of Puerto Rico, 44km (27 miles) south of St Maarten and 21km (13 miles) west of St Eustatius. Saba is situated upon the peak of a submerged extinct volcano. The highest point of the island is Mount Scenery, which is thick with forest and rises to almost 900m (3,000ft) in less than 2km (1.2 miles).

Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of The Netherlands. Gained internal autonomy in 1954.  

HM Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Dr Fritz M de los Santos Goedgedrag.

Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage, since 2006. 

The Netherlands Antilles are due to be dissolved as a unified political entity on December 15, 2008. The five islands that make up the group, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, Curacao and Sint Eustatias, will all attain new constitutional statuses within the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Dutch is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the commonly used lingua franca. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

Roman Catholic majority; also Anglican and Wesleyan.

110/220 volts AC, 60Hz.

Dutch customs are still important throughout the Netherlands Antilles, but tourism on neighbouring St Maarten has brought some US influence to Saba (several businesses are US-owned). Dress is casual and lightweight cottons are advised.