Since the early 1980s, the population of St. Martin has increased dramatically. The population of the French side of the island rose from 8,000 in 1982 to around 35,000 in 2007. More than 38,959 inhabitants live on the Dutch side. In all, over 120 nationalities can be found on St. Martin, with significant numbers of French, Haitians, Dominicans, Americans and people from other European countries. There are also communities originating from other Caribbean islands, South America, Asia and Africa. The most widely spoken languages are English, French, Haitian, Guadeloupe and Martinique Creole, Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.

The island features beautiful slave masters’ houses, dating back to the days of slavery. Some of these houses are now museums. On the French side, traditional Creole buildings prevail. These typical, elaborately decorated and brightly colored homes with their chiselled wood decorations stand proudly in the streets of Marigot and Grand Case. On the Dutch side, half-timbered Dutch houses are the brightly coloured and are the pride of the inhabitants 

S.t Martin moves to the beat of tropical music, and visitors will find a mixture of musical styles here: soca, salsa, samba, steel band, beguine, reggae, zouk and even rock. Music can be heard all over the island, in beach restaurants, roadside bars and in cars, adding to the island’s warmth, 'joie de vivre' and its welcoming hospitality.