Saint Lucia

parliamentary democracyIndependence 22 February 1979 (from UK)

Saint Lucia as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 92 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalCastries

Position13 53 N, 60 68 W

Area620 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North

Populationas each edition published it

150,630 people July 1997 est. · 153,196 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.14% 1997 est. · 0.52% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 24.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.36 years 1997 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.44 children per woman 1997 est. · 3.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 18 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,400 1996 est. · $1,650 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.3% 1996 est. · 2.5% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 620 sq km

arable land 8%permanent crops 21%permanent pastures 5%forests and woodland 13%other 53% (1993 est.)irrigated 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

620sq km

land: 610 sq kmwater : 10 sq km3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

158km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone : 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

950m

Mount Gimielowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

13 53 N, 60 68 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Climate

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

Terrain

volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Natural resources

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

Natural hazards

hurricanes and volcanic activity

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

150,630

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.14% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

23.31Death

5.71Net migration

-6.22

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%Protestant 7%Anglican 3%

Literacy

67%

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schoolmale: 65%female : 69% (1980 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years : 35% (male 26,430; female 26,018)

15-64 years:: 60% (male 44,117; female 45,922)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 3,091; female 5,052) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 71.36 years
male :: 67.74 years
female:: 75.23 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.44 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun :: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective:: Saint Lucian

Languages

English (official), French patois

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General William George MALLET (since 1 June 1996)

19 fields

House of Assembly, 17 seats, elected 27 April 1992one dot, one seat

UWP 11SLP 6

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Saint Lucia

Data code

Government type

parliamentary democracy

National capital

Castries

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

22 February 1979 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Constitution

22 February 1979

Legal system

based on English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General William George MALLET (since 1 June 1996)
head of government :: Prime Minister Vaughn LEWIS (since 31 March 1996)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections:: none;
the queen is a hereditary monarch;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body, six 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)

elections:: House of Assembly - last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held NA May 1997)
election results:: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6

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

Political parties and leaders

United Workers' Party (UWP), Vaughn LEWIS;
Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Kenneth ANTHONY;
Saint Lucia Freedom Party (SLFP), Martinus FRANCOIS

International organization participation

ACCT (associate), ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS
chancery:: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone:: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795

FAX

[1] (202) 364-6728; consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

Flag description

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

Economy

22 fields

Real growth rate

4.3%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA %

Inflation, consumer prices

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

25%

(1995 est.)

Labor force

43,800

by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1992 est.)

agriculture 13.8%industry 17.4%services 68.8% (1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$361.5 millionExpenditures

$311 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $104 million

Economy - overview

Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop.

Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $695 million (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,400 (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

34,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption per capita

801 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:: $104.1 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities:: bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
partners:: UK 56%, US 22%, Caricom countries 19% (1991)

Imports

total value:: $270.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities:: manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels
partners:: US 34%, Caricom countries 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991)

Debt - external

$115 million (1996)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

26,000

(1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: system is automatically switched
international:: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
tropospheric scatter to Barbados;
international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique