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Location
Eastern Caribbean, Leeward Islands.
Time
GMT - 4.
Area
13 sq km (5 sq miles).
Population
1,500 (estimate 2007).
Population Density
115.4 per sq km.
Capital
The Bottom.
Geography
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).
Government
Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of The Netherlands. Gained internal autonomy in 1954.
Head of State
HM Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Dr Fritz M de los Santos Goedgedrag.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage, since 2006.
Recent History
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.
Language
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.
Religion
Roman Catholic majority; also Anglican and Wesleyan.
Electricity
110/220 volts AC, 60Hz.
Social Conventions
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.