Saint Lucia

constitutional monarchyIndependence 22 February 1979 (from UK)

Saint Lucia as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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

154,020 people July 1999 est. · 153,196 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.09% 1999 est. · 0.52% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 24.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.81 years 1999 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.27 children per woman 1999 est. · 3.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

16.55 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 18 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,100 1997 est. · $1,650 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.2% 1997 · 2.5% in 1993

Geography

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

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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 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial 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

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

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

154,020

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 1.09% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

21.63Death

5.58Net migration

-5.19

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)71.81

68.14 · 75.74

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:: 33% (male 26,068; female 25,359)
15-64 years:: 61% (male 46,265; female 48,100)
65 years and over:: 6% (male 3,097; female 5,131) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

16.55 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Nationality

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

Government

Constitutional monarchy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997); Prime Minister Kenny ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

18 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

constitutional monarchy

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 (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of government:: Prime Minister Kenny ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
the governor general is appointed by the 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 or UWP

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), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Juliet Elaine MALLET PHILLIP
chancery:: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
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

The economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy | dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic | droughts and tropical storms.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$4,100

purchasing power parity? · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

2.2%

(1997)industrial production growth: -8.9% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.9%

(1997)

Unemployment rate

15%

(1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1996 est.)

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

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

50%

11%

24%

36%

16%

Caricom countries

22%

Japan

Canada

Exports $70.1 million (1997)Imports $292.4 million (1997)(1995)

Budget

Revenues

$141.2 millionExpenditures

$146.7 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (FY97/98 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

110 million (1996)Electricity consumption

110 million (1996)

Economy--overview

The economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. 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.

In 1997, strong activity in tourism and other service sectors offset the contraction in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Improvement in the construction sector and growth of the tourism industry was expected to expand GDP in 1998. The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997 primarily because of a severe decline in banana production.

Communications

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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