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.

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 340 km²
Land: 340 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 84 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 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

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.)

Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat

Geography
Note: some islands of the Grenadines group are administered by Grenada

Population: 115,437 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 0.77% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)

Ethnic groups: black African descent, white, East Indian, Carib Indian

Languages: English, French patois

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

Population growth rate: 0.77% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 20.27 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.4 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents

Infant mortality rate: 17.2 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.28 years
Male: 70.77 years
Female: 73.84 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kingstown

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

Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Constitution: 27 October 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 David JACK (since 29 September 1989)
Head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Allan C. CRUICKSHANK (since NA); note - governor general appoints leader of the majority party to position of prime minister

Legislative branch: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard
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 10, MNU 2, SVLP 3

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

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

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
From the us chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC 20,036
From the us telephone: (202) 462-7,806 or 7,846
From the us fax: (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

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. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue.

Real gdp growth rate: 6.5% (1992 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $2,000 (1992 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 15% 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: 0% (1989; accounts for 8% of GDP

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

Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1992 est.)

Budget: revenues:$62 million

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $77.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Partners: UK 54%, CARICOM 34%, US 10%

Imports: $118.6 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Partners: US 36%, CARICOM 21%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%

Debt external: $62.6 million (1992)

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

Electricity
Capacity: 16,600 kW
Production: 64 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 555 kWh (1992)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $NA, NA% of GDP

Airports: 6
Usable: 6
With permanentsurface runways: 5
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 1

Merchant marine: 555 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,575,652 GRT/9,262,250 DWT, bulk 96, cargo 280, chemical tanker 13, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 2, container 31, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, multi-function large load carrier 1, oil tanker 56, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
Note: China owns 5 ships, Croatia owns 58, Russia owns 16; a flag of convenience registry

Disputes international: none

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