Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

 
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
CIA - The World Factbook The World Factbook Home
CIA - The World Factbook
page last updated on April 28, 2010
Flag of Saint Lucia
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Saint Lucia
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Saint Lucia
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
No Photos available for Saint Lucia
 
no photos available of Saint Lucia
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Back to Top
Geography ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
13 53 N, 60 58 W
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 616 sq km
country comparison to the world: 193
land: 606 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
158 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Current Weather
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 6.45%
permanent crops: 22.58%
other: 70.97% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
30 sq km (2003)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 0.01
per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
hurricanes; volcanic activity
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean
Back to Top
People ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
160,922 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 19,422/female 18,465)
15-64 years: 67% (male 52,291/female 55,534)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 6,870/female 8,340) (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 30.3 years
male: 29.3 years
female: 31.4 years (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.398% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
14.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-3.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 12.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: 76.65 years
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 73.97 years
female: 79.48 years (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.82 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
English (official), French patois
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
6.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 29
Back to Top
Government ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
22 February 1979 (from the UK)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
22 February 1979
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age; universal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9 September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office 7 September 2007
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held on 11 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP 50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consists of a High Court and a Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; three judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Lucia); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Stephenson KING]
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LOUIS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border; the blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island
Back to Top
Economy ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Although crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, tourism provides Saint Lucia's main source of income and the industry is the island's biggest employer. Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, although tourism sector revenues declined with the global economic downturn as US and European travel dropped in 2009. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry, although recent hurricanes have caused exports to contract. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. The public debt-to-GDP ratio is about 70% and high debt servicing obligations constrain the KING administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be reduced.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.75 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$1.795 billion (2008 est.)
$1.782 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.003 billion (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0.7% (2008 est.)
1.7% (2007 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$10,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$11,200 (2008 est.)
$11,200 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 5%
industry: 15%
services: 80% (2005 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
79,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 184
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
20% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
6.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 62
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
10.08% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
8.34% (31 December 2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$261.3 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 113
$264.7 million (31 December 2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$800.1 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
$720.9 million (31 December 2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.378 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
$1.217 billion (31 December 2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
325 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
302.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2,747 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-$199 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$288 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 176
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
UK 20.8%, US 17%, South Korea 14.7%, India 13.2%, Antigua and Barbuda 5.2%, Dominican Republic 5.1%, Barbados 4.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.3% (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$791 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 177
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Brazil 84.4%, US 5.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 3.6% (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$257 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 169
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Back to Top
Communications ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
40,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 168
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
169,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 174
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
AM 2, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.lc
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
103 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 198
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
100,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 155
Back to Top
Transportation ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 1,210 km (2002)
country comparison to the world: 180
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Back to Top
Military ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard) (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 41,177 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 32,406
females age 16-49: 36,216 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
male: 1,627
female: 1,521 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Saint Lucia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All
The online Factbook is updated bi-weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.