Edition 2003 — Saint Lucia

Administrative divisions

11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.1% (male 25,883; female 24,569) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 50,711; female 52,508) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,147; female 5,339) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

Airports

2 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) Military Saint Lucia

Area

land: 606 sq km
total: 616 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Background

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. Geography Saint Lucia

Birth rate

20.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (2000 est.)
revenues: $141.2 million

Capital

Castries

Climate

tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August

Coastline

158 km

Constitution

22 February 1979

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Currency

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code

XCD

Death rate

5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$214 million (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795

Disputes - international

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

Economic aid - recipient

$51.8 million (1995)

Economy - overview

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. Economic fundamentals remain solid.

Electricity - consumption

111.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

120.2 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

Environment - international agreements

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

Ethnic groups

black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
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 the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

Exports

$68.3 million (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil

Exports - partners

UK 48.6%, US 27.8%, Barbados 7.6% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Saint Lucia

Flag description

blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border Economy Saint Lucia

GDP

purchasing power parity - $866 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7%
industry: 20%
services: 73% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

13 53 N, 60 68 W

Geography - note

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 People Saint Lucia

Government type

Westminster-style parliamentary democracy

Highways

paved: 63 km
total: 1,210 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%

Illicit drugs

transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$319.4 million (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners

Brazil 41.7%, US 21.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.9% (2002)

Independence

22 February 1979 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

-8.9% (1997 est.)

Industries

clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing

Infant mortality rate

female: 13.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.51 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 14.37 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet country code

.lc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

15 (2000)

Internet users

3,000 (2000) Transportation Saint Lucia

Irrigated land

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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)

Labor force

43,800

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 21.7%, services 53.6%, industry, commerce, and manufacturing 24.7% (2002 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 4.92%
other: 72.13% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 22.95%

Languages

English (official), French patois

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 76.9 years (2003 est.)
male: 69.52 years
total population: 73.08 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
female: 69% (1980 est.) Government Saint Lucia
male: 65%
total population: 67%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Median age

female: 24.9 years (2002)
male: 23.3 years
total: 24.1 years

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

$NA Transnational Issues Saint Lucia

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Nationality

adjective: Saint Lucian
noun: Saint Lucian(s)

Natural hazards

hurricanes and volcanic activity

Natural resources

forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

Net migration rate

-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

162,157 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.25% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Castries, Vieux Fort

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

111,000 (1997)

Railways