Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
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Background:
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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. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 53 N, 60 68 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean
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Area:
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total: 616 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 606 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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158 km
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
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Climate:
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tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
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Terrain:
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volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
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Natural resources:
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forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
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Land use:
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arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 23%
other: 72% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes and volcanic activity
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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160,145 (July 2002 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 31.6% (male 25,879; female 24,695)
15-64 years: 63.1% (male 49,667; female 51,482)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 3,134; female 5,288) (2002 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.24% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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21.37 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Death rate:
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5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-3.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 72.82 years
female: 76.64 years (2002 est.)
male: 69.26 years
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Total fertility rate:
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2.34 children born/woman (2002 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA%
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
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Ethnic groups:
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black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
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Languages:
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English (official), French patois
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 67%
male: 65%
female: 69% (1980 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
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Government type:
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Westminster-style parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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Castries
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Administrative divisions:
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11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
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Independence:
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22 February 1979 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
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Constitution:
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22 February 1979
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Legal system:
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based on English common law
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)
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Legislative branch:
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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 are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3
elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)
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Judicial branch:
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Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
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Political parties and leaders:
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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 [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
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Flag description:
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blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
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Economy - overview:
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The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Despite negative growth in 2001, economic fundamentals remain solid, and GDP growth should recover in 2002.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $700 million (2000 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-2.5% (2001 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2001 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 7.9%
industry: 19.6%
services: 72.5% (2000 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2001 est.)
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Labor force:
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43,800
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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15% (1996 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (FY97/98 est.)
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Industries:
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clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-8.9% (1997 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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115 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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106.95 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000)
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
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Exports:
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$68.3 million (2000 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
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Exports - partners:
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UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)
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Imports:
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$319.4 million (2000 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
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Imports - partners:
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US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4% (1995)
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Debt - external:
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$214 million (2000)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$51.8 million (1995)
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
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Currency code:
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XCD
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Exchange rates:
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East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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