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  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
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  Transportation
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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


Map of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing Rank Order Rank Order
   Introduction    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Disputed between France and the United Kingdom in the 18th century, Saint Vincent was ceded to the latter in 1783. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.
   Geography    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
land: 389 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
84 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
hydropower, cropland
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 10.26%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 71.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
   People    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
116,812 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 28.2% (male 16,755; female 16,163)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 39,308; female 37,149)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,215; female 4,222) (2003 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 25.3 years
male: 25.1 years
female: 25.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-7.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 73.08 years
male: 71.3 years
female: 74.92 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.95 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 7%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, Hindu Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English, French patois
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
   Government    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Kingstown
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
27 October 1979
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3
elections: last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
National Reform Party or NRP [Joel MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Ken BOYEA]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [leader NA]; United People's Movement or UPM [Adrian SAUNDERS]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Ellsworth I. A. JOHN
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
   Economy    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Bananas and other agricultural products remain the staple of this lower-middle income country's economy. Although tourism and other services have been growing moderately in recent years, the government has been ineffective at introducing new industries. Unemployment remains high, and economic growth hinges upon seasonal variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002, and tourism in the Eastern Caribbean has suffered low arrivals following 11 September 2001. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector, but its restrictive secrecy laws have come under international review. As of June 2001, it remained on the Financial Action Task Force's list of noncooperative jurisdictions. Saint Vincent is also the largest producer of marijuana in the Eastern Caribbean and is increasingly being used as a transshipment point for illegal narcotics from South America.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22% (1997 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
92.48 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 69.3%
hydro: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
86 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$53.7 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (2001)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$185.6 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (2001 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$167.2 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$47.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (1998)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
XCD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines
international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.vc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
15 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,500 (2001)
   Transportation    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,040 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 720 km (1996)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Kingstown
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 769 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,365,887 GRT/9,665,937 DWT
ships by type: bulk 133, cargo 376, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 7, container 58, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 4, multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 5, petroleum tanker 43, refrigerated cargo 46, roll on/roll off 45, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 1, Anguilla 1, Argentina 1, Australia 2, The Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Barbados 2, Belgium 4, Bulgaria 14, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 1, China 135, Colombia 1, Croatia 12, Cyprus 6, Denmark 16, Egypt 7, Estonia 6, France 27, Germany 12, Greece 156, Guyana 7, Hong Kong 23, Iceland 1, India 11, Indonesia 3, Israel 2, Italy 19, Japan 1, Kenya 4, Latvia 5, Lebanon 9, Liberia 5, Lithuania 1, Malta 1, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 1, Monaco 6, Netherlands 14, Netherlands Antilles 1, Nigeria 3, Norway 33, Pakistan 5, Panama 2, Poland 2, Portugal 2, Puerto Rico 2, Russia 8, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 4, Slovenia 7, South Korea 4, Spain 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 10, Syria 2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 15, Ukraine 8, UAE 45, UK 16, US 25, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
   Military    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
   Transnational Issues    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


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