Saint Lucia

parliamentary democracyIndependence 22 February 1979 (from UK)

Saint Lucia as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 90 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

152,335 people July 1998 est. · 153,196 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.11% 1998 est. · 0.52% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 24.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.58 years 1998 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.35 children per woman 1998 est. · 3.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

16.95 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 18 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,800 1996 est. · $1,650 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.8% 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

15 fields

Population

152,335

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 1.11% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

22.48Death

5.64Net migration

-5.7

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)71.58

67.94 · 75.48

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)67%

65% · 69%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%Protestant 7%Anglican 3%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 34% (male 26,261; female 25,747)
15-64 years:: 60% (male 45,182; female 46,956)
65 years and over:: 6% (male 3,095; female 5,094) (July 1998 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 (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

16.95 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.35 children born/woman (1998 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 Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997); Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since NA)

19 fields

Legislature, 17 seatsone dot, one seat

SLP 16UWP 1

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 Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of government:: Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since NA)
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 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:: House of Assembly-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - SLP 16, UWP 1

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);
Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Kenneth ANTHONY;
National Freedom Party (NFP), 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, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mrs. Juliet Elaine MALLET PHILLIP
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

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$600million

purchasing power parity · (1996 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$3,800

purchasing power parity · (1996 est.)

Real growth rate

0.8%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 2.8% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

-2.3%

(1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 10.7%industry 32.3%services 57% (1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$155 millionExpenditures

$169 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $48 million (FY96/97 est.)

Fixed lines

26,000

(1992 est.)

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.

Labor force

total:: 43,800
by occupation:: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

22,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production

110 million kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

705 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:: $79.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
partners:: UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)

Imports

total value:: $270.6 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
partners:: US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4% (1995)

Debt-external

$131 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 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March Communications

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