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.

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
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources: Negligible

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

Irrigated land: 10 km² (1989 est.)

Population:
Growth rate:

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

Age structure
0-14 years:
15-64 years: 62% (male 36,576; female 36,381) (July 1996 est.) 61% (male 35,573; female 35,565) (July 1995 est.)
65 years and over:

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

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
International agreements: party to_Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified_Desertification
International agreements note: The administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
All ages:

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.94 years (1996 est.), 72.66 years (1995 est.)
Male: 71.43 years (1996 est.), 71.15 years (1995 est.)
Female: 74.49 years (1996 est.), 74.21 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

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

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

Independence: 27 October 1979 (from U.K.)

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); the governor general appoints the leader of the majority party to the position of prime minister; Deputy Prime Minister Carlyle DOUGAN (since 17 September 1995) was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the 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)

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

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. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995.

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

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:

Industrial production growth rate: NA

Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 26%
By occupation industry: 17%
By occupation services: 57% (1980 est.)

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

Budget
Revenues: $80 million (1996 est.), $66.2 million (1993 est.)
Expenditures: $118 million, including capital expenditures of $39 million (1996 est.), $77.3 million, including capital expenditures of $23 million (1993 est.)

Fiscal year: Calendar year

Exports: total value. $57.1 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports: total value:$134.6 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodities:
Partners:

Debt external: $74.9 million (1993)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1_2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

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

Telephone system: 6,189 telephones (1983 est.); islandwide fully automatic telephone system
Domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines
International: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Airports: 6
914 to 1523 m: 2
Under 914 m: 4 (1995 est.)

Merchant marine
Total: 611 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,690,104 GRT/9,367,014 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 305, chemical tanker 20, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 4, container 33, liquefied gas tanker 4, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 58, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 35, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 2
Note: A flag of convenience registry; includes 24 countries among which are Croatia 49 ships, Russia 14, Slovenia 9, China 9, Germany 2, Serbia, Hong Kong 2,Latvia 1, Ukraine 1, Poland 1 (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs: Transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the U.S. and Europe