2011 Edition

Background

Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.

Area

389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) 389 sq km 0 sq km

total

389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

84 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m La Soufriere 1,234 m

highest point

La Soufriere 1,234 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.01 83 cu m/yr (1995)

per capita

83 cu m/yr (1995)

total

0.01

Geographic coordinates

13 15 N, 61 12 W

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

17.95% 17.95% 64.1% (2005)

arable land

17.95%

other

64.1% (2005)

permanent crops

17.95%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

hydropower, cropland

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Age structure

24.5% (male 12,842/female 12,638) 67.4% (male 36,042/female 33,985) 8.1% (male 3,807/female 4,555) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

24.5% (male 12,842/female 12,638)

15-64 years

67.4% (male 36,042/female 33,985)

65 years and over

8.1% (male 3,807/female 4,555) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

14.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

6.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

14.27 deaths/1,000 live births 15.54 deaths/1,000 live births 12.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

12.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

14.27 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English, French patois

Life expectancy at birth

74.15 years 72.26 years 76.09 years (2011 est.)

female

76.09 years (2011 est.)

total population

74.15 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school 96% 96% 96% (1970 est.)

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

96% (1970 est.)

male

96%

total population

96%

Major cities - population

KINGSTOWN (capital) 28,000 (2009)

Median age

30.1 years 30.2 years 30 years (2011 est.)

female

30 years (2011 est.)

male

30.2 years

total

30.1 years

Nationality

Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

adjective

Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

noun

Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)

Net migration rate

-10.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.7542 physicians/1,000 population (2000)

Population

103,869 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.327% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 13 years 13 years (2005)

female

13 years (2005)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.031 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.83 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.83 male(s)/female

at birth

1.031 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

49% of total population (2010) 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

49% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Kingstown 13 09 N, 61 14 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

13 09 N, 61 14 W

name

Kingstown

time difference

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

Constitution

27 October 1979

Country name

none Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 [1] (202) 364-6730 [1] (202) 364-6736 New York

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 364-6736

telephone

[1] (202) 364-6730

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002) Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister 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

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 Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

27 October 1979 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, 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, WHO, WIPO, WTO

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)

Legal system

English common law

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) last held on 13 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015) percent of vote by party - ULP 51.6%, NDP 47.8%; seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7

election results

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

elections

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

National anthem

"St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!" Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL adopted 1967

lyrics/music

Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL

name

"St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!"

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

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

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$185.2 million $222.2 million (2010 est.)

expenditures

$222.2 million (2010 est.)

revenues

$185.2 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.2% (31 December 2010 est.) 9.2% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$213.7 million (2010 est.) -$198.1 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$272.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) $208.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

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 over 90% of GDP at the end of 2010. Following the global downturn, St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw an economic decline in 2009, after slowing since 2006, when GDP growth reached a 10-year high of nearly 7%. The GONSALVES administration is directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011.

Electricity - consumption

122.7 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

132 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2010) 2.7 (2009) 2.7 (2005) 2.7 (2004) 2.7 (2003)

Exports

$56 million (2010 est.) $54.76 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 43.6%, Greece 9.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.4%, St. Lucia 6.6%, Barbados 5.4%, Dominica 4.3%, Grenada 4.1% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

7.9% 25.2% 66.9% (2010 est.)

agriculture

7.9%

industry

25.2%

services

66.9% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,300 (2010 est.) $10,500 (2009 est.) $10,500 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-2.3% (2010 est.) -1.1% (2009 est.) -0.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$561 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.069 billion (2010 est.) $1.093 billion (2009 est.) $1.105 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$320.8 million (2010 est.) $293.9 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Singapore 23.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, US 14.5%, China 12.4%, France 5.2% (2010)

Industries

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.) 0.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

30.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

57,520 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

26% 17% 57% (1980 est.)

agriculture

26%

industry

17%

services

57% (1980 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

1,252 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$456.3 million (31 December 2010 est.) $444.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$374 million (31 December 2010 est.) $423.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$128 million (31 December 2010 est.) $133 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2001 est.)

Broadcast media

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 television station and 5 repeater stations that give near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service is obtainable; 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 operate (2007)

Internet country code

.vc

Internet hosts

211 (2010)

Internet users

76,000 (2009)

Telephone system

adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons 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

domestic

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

general assessment

adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

21,700 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

131,800 (2010)

Airports

6 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

5

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2010)

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 76, cargo 274, carrier 16, chemical tanker 4, container 21, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2 382 (Austria 2, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 10, China 82, Croatia 8, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 19, Dominica 1, Egypt 4, Estonia 10, France 2, Germany 2, Greece 63, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 4, Israel 3, Italy 5, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 10, Monaco 3, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 12, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1, Russia 15, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Syria 13, Turkey 18, UAE 4, UK 7, Ukraine 12, US 19, Venezuela 1) this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag; these ships operate under the laws of the flag state (2010)

foreign-owned

382 (Austria 2, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 10, China 82, Croatia 8, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 19, Dominica 1, Egypt 4, Estonia 10, France 2, Germany 2, Greece 63, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 4, Israel 3, Italy 5, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 10, Monaco 3, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 12, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1, Russia 15, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Syria 13, Turkey 18, UAE 4, UK 7, Ukraine 12, US 19, Venezuela 1)

total

444

Ports and terminals

Kingstown

Roadways

829 km 580 km 249 km (2003)

total

829 km

unpaved

249 km (2003)

Manpower available for military service

27,809 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

27,809 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

22,875 22,015 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

22,015 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

22,875

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

953 (2010 est.)

female

953 (2010 est.)

male

964

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard; for national defense, Saint Vincent relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados (2010)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

Trafficking in persons

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a likely source, transit, and destination country for some children and adults subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking Tier 2 Watch List - while capacity to address human trafficking is limited due to the country's small size, the government demonstrated little evidence of efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and to ensure that victims of trafficking received access to protective services (2011)

current situation

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a likely source, transit, and destination country for some children and adults subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - while capacity to address human trafficking is limited due to the country's small size, the government demonstrated little evidence of efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and to ensure that victims of trafficking received access to protective services (2011)