Saint Lucia
parliamentary democracyIndependence 22 February 1979 (from UK)
Saint Lucia as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about two-thirds of the way | between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
23 fieldsLocation
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about two-thirds of the way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
total area
620 sq km
land area
610 sq km
comparative area
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
contiguous zone
24 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
Climate
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
arable land
8%
permanent crops
20%
meadows and pastures
5%
forest and woodland
13%
other
54%
current issues
deforestation; soil erosion
natural hazards
subject to hurricanes and volcanic activity
international agreements
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
People
21 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
69.36 years
male
67.06 years
female
71.83 years (1994 est.)
noun
Saint Lucian(s)
adjective
Saint Lucian
total population
67%
male
65%
female
69%
by occupation
agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy
27 fieldsLegislature, 17 seatsone dot, one seat
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Saint Lucia
Administrative divisions
11 quarters; Anse La Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux Fort
chief of state
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10 October 1988)
head of government
Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since 3 May 1982); Vice President George MALLET (since NA)
cabinet
Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
Senate
consists of an 11-member body, 6 appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 2 after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups
House of Assembly
- elections last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (17 total) UWP 11, SLP 6
Political parties and leaders
- United Workers' Party (UWP), John COMPTON;
- Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian HUNTE;
- Progressive Labor Party (PLP), George ODLUM
Member of
ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
chief of mission
Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS
chancery
Suite 309, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 30037
consulate(s) general
New York
US diplomatic representation
no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag
blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy
25 fieldsOverview
Since 1983 the economy has shown an impressive average annual growth rate of almost 5% because of strong agricultural and tourist sectors. Saint Lucia also possesses an expanding industrial base supported by foreign investment in manufacturing and other activities, such as data processing.
The economy, however, remains vulnerable because the important agricultural sector is dominated by banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. The economy exhibited relatively strong growth in 1992-93 based on a recovery of the agricultural and manufacturing sectors and continued growth in construction and tourism.
revenues
$121 million
expenditures
$127 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1992 est.)
commodities
bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
partners
UK 56%, US 22%, CARICOM 19% (1991)
commodities
manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels
partners
US 34%, CARICOM 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991)
capacity
32,500 kW
production
112 million kWh
consumption per capita
740 kWh (1992)
Industries
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Agriculture
- accounts for 14% of GDP and 43% of labor force;
- crops - bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus fruit, root crops, cocoa;
- imports food for the tourist industry
recipient
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $120 million
Communications
11 fieldstotal
760 km
paved
500 km
unpaved
otherwise improved 260 km
total
3
usable
3
with permanent-surface runways
3
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
1
Telecommunications
- fully automatic telephone system;
- 9,500 telephones;
- direct microwave link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
- interisland troposcatter link to Barbados;
- broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (cable)
Defense Forces
Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard
3 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Saint Lucia.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/saint-lucia/1994.