(๐๐ฅ๐ช๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ'๐ด ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ: ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ด ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ข๐บ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ, ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ณ 2, 2026).
GREATย BAY--Young women in St. Maarten are attaining college and university qualifications at a considerably higher rate than young men, according to newly released findings from the 2022 Population and Housing Census. The figures also show a substantial difference in earnings between residents with higher education and those whose schooling ended at the primary level, highlighting the relationship between educational qualifications, employment opportunities and income.
The Department of Statistics (STAT), which released additional census reports on November 2, 2026, found that approximately 32 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 34 held a college or university degree, compared with just 18 percent of men in the same age group.
The island's population reached 41,902 in 2022, compared with 33,609 in 2011, an increase of 8,293 residents over the 11-year period. Census interviews began in September 2022, with final visits conducted in April and May 2023. More than 32,000 individuals participated in the exercise.
The difference is also evident across the broader adult population, although the gap is smaller. Among residents aged 25 and older, approximately 25 percent of women held college or university qualifications, compared with 20 percent of men. The results suggest that women have established a stronger presence among residents with tertiary qualifications, particularly in the younger adult population.
The census also found a substantial relationship between educational attainment and income. Residents holding college or university degrees reported a typical monthly income of approximately NAf 4,500, compared with around NAf 1,500 among those with primary education or less. This represents a threefold difference in typical monthly earnings between the two educational groups. Residents with higher qualifications were also more likely to be employed, although the figures do not establish that education alone accounts for the difference in income.
School attendance among children remains high. Approximately 97 percent of residents between the ages of four and 17 were attending school at the time of the census, with similar participation rates among boys and girls. The findings indicate that most children within the traditional school-age population were enrolled in education, although attendance alone does not measure academic performance, learning outcomes or the number of students successfully completing their studies.
Participation declines considerably among young adults. The census found that approximately 22 percent of residents aged 18 to 24 were still receiving education. This age group includes individuals who may already have completed their studies, entered employment or pursued other opportunities, meaning the figure should not automatically be interpreted as a school dropout rate. Nevertheless, it provides an important measure of educational participation beyond the secondary school years.
A comparison between generations also illustrates changes in educational attainment. Approximately 41 percent of residents aged 65 and older had completed primary education or less, compared with just 9 percent among those aged 25 to 34. The difference suggests that younger generations have generally attained higher levels of formal education than older residents, reflecting changes in educational access and opportunities over time.
The findings raise several questions for St. Maarten's education and labor market policies, including whether sufficient opportunities are available for students to pursue higher education, whether young men face particular challenges in educational progression and how the country can strengthen the connection between education, vocational training and employment.
The full reports on Demography, Education and Health, including detailed statistical tables, are available on the Department of Statistics website: https://stats.sintmaartengov.org/
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