Map of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: 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.


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Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total area total: 340 km²
Land: 340 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 84 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive 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 Saint Vincent

Elevation

Natural resources: negligible

Land use
Arable land: 38%
Permanent crops: 12%
Meadows and pastures: 6%
Forest and woodland: 41%
Other: 3%

Irrigated land: 10 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada


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Population: 117,344 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
Adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic groups: African descent, Caucasian, East Indian, Carib Indian

Languages: English, French patois

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 34% (female 19,551; male 20,185)
15-64 years: 61% (female 35,565; male 35,573)
65 years and over: 5% (female 3,793; male 2,677) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 19.62 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.46 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.63 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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
Current issues natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat
Current issues international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 17.2 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.66 years
Male: 71.15 years
Female: 74.21 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
Total population: 96%
Male: 96%
Female: 96%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kingstown

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Dependent areas

Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Constitution: 27 October 1979

Legal system: based on English common law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 September 1989)
Head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Parnel CAMPBELL (since NA February 1994); note - governor general appoints leader of the majority party to position of prime minister
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 21 February 1994 (next to be held NA July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators) NDP 12, ULP 3

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
In the us chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-7,806, 7,846
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 462-7,807
From the us: no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of the economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. In 1993, economic growth slowed to 1.4%, reflecting a sharp decline in agricultural production caused by drought. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $2,000 (1994 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for 14% of GDP and 60% of labor force; provides bulk of exports; products - bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, hogs, goats; small fish catch used locally

Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Industrial production growth rate

Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
By occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $66.2
Expenditures: $77.3 million, including capital expenditures of $23 million (1993 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $57.1 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodoties: bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Partners: UK 54%, CARICOM 34%, US 10%

Imports: $134.6 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Partners: US 36%, CARICOM 21%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $74.9 million (1993)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)


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Electricity
Capacity: 16,600 kW
Production: 50 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 436 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 6,500 telephones; islandwide fully automatic telephone system
Local: NA
Intercity: VHF/UHF interisland links from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines
International: VHF/UHF interisland links from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF links to Grenada and to Saint Lucia

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 4

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 580 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,212,812 GRT/8,530,725 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 289, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 3, container 36, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 2, oil tanker 53, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 16 countries among which are Croatia 49 ships, Russia 23, Slovenia 11, China 8, Germany 3, Serbia 2, Latvia 1, Montenegro 1, Georgia 1, UAR 1

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe