Central America and Caribbean :: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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## Introduction ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Background:
Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.

## Geography ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) country comparison to the world: 204 land: 389 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
84 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, cropland
Land use:
arable land: 12.82% permanent crops: 7.69% other: 79.49% (2011)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.01 cu km/yr (NA) per capita: 92.59 cu m/yr (1995)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

## People and Society ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:
black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%
Languages:
English, French patois
Religions:
Protestant 75% (Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%), Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Population:
103,220 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 12,179/female 11,979) 15-24 years: 17% (male 8,848/female 8,680) 25-54 years: 42.5% (male 22,777/female 21,067) 55-64 years: 8.8% (male 4,627/female 4,412) 65 years and over: 8.4% (male 3,982/female 4,669) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 31.3 years male: 31.4 years female: 31.2 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 217
Birth rate:
14.12 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Death rate:
7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Net migration rate:
-10.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
Urbanization:
urban population: 49% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
KINGSTOWN (capital) 28,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
48 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 109
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.46 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 124 male: 14.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.62 years country comparison to the world: 108 male: 72.69 years female: 76.62 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.87 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Health expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 154
Physicians density:
0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2000)
Hospital bed density:
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: rural: 96% of population unimproved: rural: 4% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
23.4% (2008) country comparison to the world: 75
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 69
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2004)

## Government ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Country name:
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Kingstown geographic coordinates: 13 08 N, 61 13 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence:
27 October 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:
27 October 1979
Legal system:
English common law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 13 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 51.6%, NDP 47.8%, other 0.6%; seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the ECSC - with its headquarters on Saint Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines note - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders:
New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE] Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Flag description:
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush vegetation
National anthem:
name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!" lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL note: adopted 1967

## Economy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Economy - overview:
Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2008, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines, a drop of nearly 20% from 2007. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high public debt burden, which was 68% of GDP at the end of 2011. GDP grew on average 6% annually from 2002-07, but contracted between 2008-10 as a result of the global economic downturn; growth remains slow.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.312 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 200 $1.306 billion (2011 est.) $1.301 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$712 million (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 0.4% (2011 est.) -2.3% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $11,900 (2011 est.) $11,900 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 5.4% industry: 19.9% services: 74.8% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
57,520 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 26% industry: 17% services: 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $185.2 million expenditures: $185.2 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
26% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Public debt:
68% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 4% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.4% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 9.13% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$129.5 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 $122.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$431.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $411.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$408.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $389.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Industries:
tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Current account balance:
-$226.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 -$221.6 million (2011 est.)
Exports:
$47.1 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 $43.02 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
Exports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 15.2%, St. Lucia 13.5%, Turkey 12.1%, Barbados 11.2%, Dominica 8.9%, Grenada 8.5%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.6% (2012)
Imports:
$295.3 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 202 $294.5 million (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:
Singapore 27%, Trinidad and Tobago 24.1%, US 18.3%, China 5.4%, Barbados 5.3% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$95 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $89.63 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external:
$265.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $282.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Electricity - production:
132 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - consumption:
122.8 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
49,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
81.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
18.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1,948 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Refined petroleum products - imports:
1,474 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
332,600 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

## Communications ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Telephones - main lines in use:
22,700 (2011) country comparison to the world: 186
Telephones - mobile cellular:
131,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 186
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia (2011)
Broadcast media:
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately owned radio stations and repeater stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.vc
Internet hosts:
305 (2012) country comparison to the world: 191
Internet users:
76,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 169

## Transportation ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Airports:
6 (2012) country comparison to the world: 176
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2012)
Roadways:
total: 829 km country comparison to the world: 186 paved: 580 km unpaved: 249 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 412 country comparison to the world: 25 by type: bulk carrier 64, cargo 263, carrier 14, chemical tanker 4, container 18, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 325 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 7, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 9, China 65, Croatia 8, Cyprus 3, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 9, Dominica 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 8, France 2, Germany 3, Greece 42, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 5, Israel 3, Italy 4, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 9, Monaco 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 13, Poland 3, Romania 1, Russia 11, Singapore 5, Slovenia 1, Sweden 10, Switzerland 7, Syria 9, Turkey 13, UAE 3, UK 6, Ukraine 12, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kingstown

## Military ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF) (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,809 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,875 females age 16-49: 22,015 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 964 female: 953 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA

## Transnational Issues ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Disputes - international:
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

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