Saint Lucia

Westminster-style parliamentary democracyIndependence 22 February 1979 (from UK)

Saint Lucia as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 101 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 Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Populationas each edition published it

156,260 people July 2000 est. · 153,196 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.21% 2000 est. · 0.52% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 24.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

72.31 years 2000 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.42 children per woman 2000 est. · 3.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

15.64 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 18 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,300 1998 est. · $1,650 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.9% 1998 est. · 2.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Self government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

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

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

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Population

156,260

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 1.21% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

22.19Death

5.43Net migration

-4.67

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)72.31

68.74 · 76.14

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 26,087; female 25,159)
15-64 years:: 62% (male 47,420; female 49,290)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 3,113; female 5,191) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 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 (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

15.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.42 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

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

Languages

English (official), French patois

Government

Westminster-style parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997); Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

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House of Assembly, 17 seats, elected 23 May 1997one dot, one seat

SLP 16UWP 1

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

Westminster-style parliamentary democracy

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. Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of government:: Prime Minister Kenneth 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 (11 seats; six members 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

National Freedom Party or NFP [Martinus FRANCOIS];
Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY];
United Workers Party or UWP [leader NA]

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 Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY
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 US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Flag description

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

Economy

The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia.

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Real growth rate

2.9%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: -8.9% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.7%

(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

15%

(1996 est.)

Labor force

43,800

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 $75 million (1998)Imports $290 million (1998)(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 (1998)Electricity consumption

102 million (1998)

Economy - overview

The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. Improvement in the construction sector and growth of the tourism industry helped expand GDP in 1998-99.

The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997 primarily because of a severe decline in banana production. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean, and the government is beginning to develop regulations for the small offshore financial sector.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $656 million (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

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

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$75 million (1998)

Exports - commodities

bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil

Imports

$290 million (1998)

Imports - commodities

food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Debt - external

$135 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$51.8 million (1995)

Currency

1 East Caribbean 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

8 fields

Mobile cellular

1,000

(1995)

Fixed lines

31,000

(1995)

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