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Central America and Caribbean :: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

page last updated on January 29, 2013

(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)

Location of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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Introduction ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Geography ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Location:

Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)

country comparison to the world: 204

land: 389 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

84 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain:

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, cropland

Land use:

arable land: 17.95%

permanent crops: 17.95%

other: 64.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.01

per capita: 83 cu m/yr (1995)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment - current issues:

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:

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, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

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 and Society ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Nationality:

noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)

adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic groups:

black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%

Languages:

English, French patois

Religions:

Protestant 75% (Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%), Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%

Population:

103,537 (July 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24% (male 12,509/ female 12,306)

15-64 years: 67.8% (male 36,148/ female 34,072)

65 years and over: 8.2% (male 3,892/ female 4,610) (2012 est.)

population pyramid:

Median age:

total: 30.7 years

male: 30.8 years

female: 30.6 years (2012 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.313% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 211

Birth rate:

14.36 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 140

Death rate:

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 130

Net migration rate:

-10.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 210

Urbanization:

urban population: 49% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities - population:

KINGSTOWN (capital) 28,000 (2009)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

48 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 109

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.86 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 124

male: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.39 years

country comparison to the world: 107

male: 72.48 years

female: 76.36 years (2012 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.89 children born/woman (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

Health expenditures:

5.6% of GDP (2009)

country comparison to the world: 123

Physicians density:

0.7542 physicians/1,000 population (2000)

Hospital bed density:

3 beds/1,000 population (2007)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Education expenditures:

6.6% of GDP (2009)

country comparison to the world: 20

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 96%

male: 96%

female: 96% (1970 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 13 years (2005)

Government ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Government type:

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital:

name: Kingstown

geographic coordinates: 13 08 N, 61 13 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Independence:

27 October 1979 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Constitution:

27 October 1979

Legal system:

English common law

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)

head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 13 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 51.6%, NDP 47.8%; seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a High Court and Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Political parties and leaders:

New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; 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:

International organization participation:

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE

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:

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Flag description:

three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush vegetation

National anthem:

name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!"

lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL

note: adopted 1967

Economy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Economy - overview:

Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2008, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines, a drop of nearly 20% from 2007. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high public debt burden, which was 68% of GDP at the end of 2011. GDP grew on average 6% annually from 2002-07, but contracted between 2008-10 as a result of the global economic downturn; growth remains slow.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.301 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 200

$1.285 billion (2011 est.)

$1.284 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$717 million (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.2% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

0% (2011 est.)

-1.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,900 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 104

$11,700 (2011 est.)

$11,700 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.4%

industry: 19.9%

services: 73.6% (2012 est.)

Labor force:

57,520 (2007 est.)

country comparison to the world: 188

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 26%

industry: 17%

services: 57% (1980 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (2001 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $185.2 million

expenditures: $185.2 million (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

25.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

0% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

Public debt:

68% of GDP (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.1% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 140

1.9% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.3% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

9.13% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$135 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 180

$122.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$431.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 179

$411.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$408.8 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 176

$389.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish

Current account balance:

-$226.2 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

-$221.6 million (2011 est.)

Exports:

$68.3 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

$64.4 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets

Exports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 12%, Austria 12%, St. Lucia 10.7%, France 9.5%, Turkey 8.9%, Barbados 8.9%, Dominica 7%, Grenada 6.7%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.1% (2011)

Imports:

$366.5 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 192

$348 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Imports - partners:

Singapore 24.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 17.6%, US 12.6%, China 12.3%, Norway 7.5% (2011)

Debt - external:

$252.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 182

$264.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

2.7 (2012 est.)

2.7 (2011 est.)

2.7 (2010 est.)

2.7 (2009)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Energy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Communications ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Telephones - main lines in use:

22,700 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 186

Telephones - mobile cellular:

131,800 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 185

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system

domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 per 100 persons

international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Broadcast media:

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately-owned radio stations and repeater stations (2007)

Internet country code:

.vc

Internet hosts:

305 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 191

Internet users:

76,000 (2009)

country comparison to the world: 169

Transportation ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Airports:

6 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 177

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Roadways:

total: 829 km

country comparison to the world: 186

paved: 580 km

unpaved: 249 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 412

country comparison to the world: 25

by type: bulk carrier 64, cargo 263, carrier 14, chemical tanker 4, container 18, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned: 325 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 7, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 9, China 65, Croatia 8, Cyprus 3, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 9, Dominica 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 8, France 2, Germany 3, Greece 42, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 5, Israel 3, Italy 4, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 9, Monaco 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 13, Poland 3, Romania 1, Russia 11, Singapore 5, Slovenia 1, Sweden 10, Switzerland 7, Syria 9, Turkey 13, UAE 3, UK 6, Ukraine 12, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Kingstown

Military ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Transnational Issues ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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