Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Introduction

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

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: 203 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: 17.95%
permanent crops:17.95%
other:64.1% (2005)

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2008)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.01
per capita:83cu 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

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

103,869 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.5% (male 12,842/female 12,638)
15-64 years:67.4% (male 36,042/female 33,985)
65 years and over:8.1% (male 3,807/female 4,555) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 30.1 years
male:30.2 years
female:30 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.327% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217

Birth rate

14.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Death rate

6.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Net migration rate

-10.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 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 cities – population

KINGSTOWN (capital) 28,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.031 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.83 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 124 male:15.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female:12.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.15 years
country comparison to the world: 107 male:72.26 years
female:76.09 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123

Physicians density

0.7542 physicians/1,000 population (2000)
country comparison to the world: 113

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 75

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20

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: 14 years
male:13 years
female:13 years (2005)

Government

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 09 N, 61 14 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%

seats by party – ULP 8, NDP 7

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a High Court and Court of Appeals

based on Saint Lucia

two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, 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

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 over 90% of GDP at the end of 2010. Following the global downturn, St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw an economic decline in 2009, after slowing since 2006, when GDP growth reached a 10-year high of nearly 7%. The GONSALVES administration is directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.069 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199 $1.093 billion (2009 est.)
$1.105 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$561 million (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

-2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208 -1.1% (2009 est.)
-0.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$10,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106 $10,500 (2009 est.)
$10,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 7.9%
industry:25.2%
services:66.9% (2010 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: 149

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

30.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Budget

revenues: $185.2 million
expenditures:$222.2 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48 0.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.2% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119 9.2% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$128 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180 $133 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$456.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176 $444.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$374 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172 $423.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Agriculture – products

bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices

small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats

fish

Industries

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Electricity – production

132 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity – consumption

122.7 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Oil – consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Oil – imports

1,252 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Current account balance

-$213.7 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 -$198.1 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$56 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196 $54.76 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch

tennis racquets

Exports – partners

France 43.6%, Greece 9.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.4%, St. Lucia 6.6%, Barbados 5.4%, Dominica 4.3%, Grenada 4.1% (2010)

Imports

$320.8 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192 $293.9 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Imports – partners

Singapore 23.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, US 14.5%, China 12.4%, France 5.2% (2010)

Debt – external

$272.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175 $208.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2010)
2.7 (2009)
2.7 (2005)
2.7 (2004)
2.7 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

6 (2010)
country comparison to the world:173

Airports – with paved runways

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 1
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 829 km
country comparison to the world: 185 paved:580 km
unpaved:249 km (2003)

Merchant marine

total: 444
country comparison to the world: 23 by type:bulk carrier 76, cargo 274, carrier 16, chemical tanker 4, container 21, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned:382 (Austria 2, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 10, China 82, Croatia 8, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 19, Dominica 1, Egypt 4, Estonia 10, France 2, Germany 2, Greece 63, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 4, Israel 3, Italy 5, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 10, Monaco 3, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 12, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1, Russia 15, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Syria 13, Turkey 18, UAE 4, UK 7, Ukraine 12, US 19, Venezuela 1)
note:this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag

these ships operate under the laws of the flag state (2010)

Ports and terminals

Kingstown

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces

Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard

for national defense, Saint Vincent relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados (2010)

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

Disputes – international

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela’s claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Trafficking in persons

current situation: St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a likely source, transit, and destination country for some children and adults subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – while capacity to address human trafficking is limited due to the country’s small size, the government demonstrated little evidence of efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and to ensure that victims of trafficking received access to protective services (2011)

Illicit drugs

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

small-scale cannabis cultivation