Saint Lucia

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

Saint Lucia as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 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
Area616 sq km
LocationCaribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
2003

Every edition of Saint Lucia

Populationas each edition published it
162,157 people July 2003 est. · 153,196 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.25% 2003 est. · 0.52% in 1993
Median ageyears
24.1 years 2002 · 40.4 yrs in 2025
Life expectancyyears at birth
73.08 years 2003 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.29 children per woman 2003 est. · 3.8 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
14.37 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 18 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$5,400 2002 est. · $1,650 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.3% 2002 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 616 sq km

arable land 4.92%permanent crops 22.95%other 72.13% (1998 est.)irrigated 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
616sq km
water: 10 sq kmland: 606 sq km3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
158km
land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
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, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

People

19 fields
Population
162,157
(July 2003 est.)growth rate: 1.25% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth
20.93Death
5.24Net migration
-3.15

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)73.08
69.52 · 76.9Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)14.37
15.51 · 13.15
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)67%
65% · 69%Median age years (2002)24.1
23.3 · 24.9
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%Anglican 3%other Protestant 7%

Age structure

0-14 years:
31.1% (male 25,883; female 24,569)
15-64 years:
63.7% (male 50,711; female 52,508)
65 years and over:
5.2% (male 3,147; female 5,339) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.59 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.29 children born/woman (2003 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. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997); Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

55%
SLP 55%UWP 37%House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)

House of Assembly, 17 seats, elected 3 December 2001one dot, one seat

SLP 14UWP 3

Percent of vote

SLP 55%UWP 37%

Country name

conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Saint Lucia

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

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)
elections:
  • none;
  • the monarch is hereditary;
  • the governor general is appointed by the monarch;
  • following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general;
  • deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
head of government:
Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

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)

election results:
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3
elections:
House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)

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 Alliance or NA [George ODLUM];
  • Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS];
  • Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY];
  • Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE];
  • United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, 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) 364-6723
consulate(s) general:
Miami and 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.

36 fields
Real growth rate
3.3%
(2002 est.)industrial production growth: -8.9% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate
16.5%
(1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2002 est.)

agriculture 7%industry 20%services 73% (2002 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

48.6%
UK
Brazil
41.7%
27.8%
US
21.4%
Trinidad and Tobago
11.9%
7.6%
Barbados
Exports $68.3 million (2000 est.)Imports $319.4 million (2000 est.)(2002)

Budget

Revenues
$141.2 millionExpenditures
$146.7 million (2000 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $25.1 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · other 0% · nuclear 0%
Electricity production
120.2 million (2001)Electricity consumption
111.8 million (2001)

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. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries.

The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Economic fundamentals remain solid.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $866 million (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 21.7%, services 53.6%, industry, commerce, and manufacturing 24.7% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$68.3 million (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$319.4 million (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$214 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$51.8 million (1995)

Currency

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
1,600
(1997)
Fixed lines
37,000
(1997) · country code .lc

Telephone system

general assessment:
adequate 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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)

Internet users

3,000 (2000)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

2,438 to 3,047 m
11,524 to 2,437 m
1

Networkskm

Highways
1,210Railways
0
Highways: paved: 63 km · unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)

Highways

total:
1,210 km
paved:
63 km
unpaved:
1,147 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Castries, Vieux Fort

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Airports

2 (2002)

Military

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard)

3 fields

Military branches

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs

transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Central Intelligence Agency. “Saint Lucia.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/saint-lucia/2003.

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