Statistical information Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1989

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the World
top of pageBackground: Disputed between France and Great Britain in the 18th century Saint Vincent was ceded to the latter in 1783. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claimsExtended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island of St. Vincent
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land use: 38% arable land; 12% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; 41% forest and woodland; 3% other; includes 3% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: some islands of the Grenadines group are administered by Grenada
top of pagePopulation: 104,891 (July 1989), growth rate 0.6% (1989)
Nationality: noun--St. Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s; adjectives--St. Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: mainly of black African descent; remainder mixed, with some white, East Indian, Carib Indian
Languages: English, some French patois
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 27 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: - 15 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 82%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State
Capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Dependent areasIndependence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1970)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law; highest judicial body is Court of Appeal of Leeward and Windward Islands
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Henry Harvey WILLIAMS, Acting Governor General (since 1988; James F. MITCHELL, Prime Minister (since 1984)
Legislative branch: Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CARICOM, EEC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IMO, OAS, OECS, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of the economy, providing employment for over 60% of the labor force and contributing about 20% to GDP. The services sector is next in importance, based mostly on a growing tourist industry. In 1986 services grew by 4.4% and accounted for 15% of GDP. The economy continues to have a high unemployment rate of 40% because of an overdependence on the weather-plagued banana crop as a major export earner. Government progress toward diversifying into new industries has been relatively unsuccessful.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: bananas, arrowroot, coconuts, spices, vegetables; small numbers of cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats
Industries: food processing (sugar, flour), cement, furniture, rum, starch, sheet metal, beverage
Industrial production growth rate: - 1.2% (1986)
Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
Unemployment rate: 40% (1987 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $42.7 million; expenditures $67.5 million, including capital expenditures of $25.8 (FY88)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $63.8 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: --bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, copra
Partners: CARICOM 60%, UK 27%, US 10%
Imports: $87.3 million (c.i.f., 1986)
Commodities: --foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Partners: US 37%, CARICOM 18%, UK 13%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $35 million (July 1987)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 16,600 kW capacity; 63.7 million kWh produced, 610 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 6 total, 6 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 128 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 939,596 GRT/1,460,445 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 75 cargo, 4 container, 6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 5 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 28 bulk, 4 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs