It is the nation's second largest port and the seat of Bas-Sassandra District and San-Pédro Region.

Largely developed from the 1960s, fishing is an important industry, while the town is known for its nightlife and its beaches.

[3] A railway is proposed from San-Pédro to iron ore deposits around Mount Nimba.

[4] There would be no immediate connection with the existing metre gauge national railway at Abidjan.

École française de San Pédro [fr] is located in San-Pédro.