Saint Lucia

Internet country code

.lc

Internet hosts

103 (2009) country comparison to the world: 198

Internet users

100,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 155

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate system domestic: system is automatically switched international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados

Telephones - main lines in use

40,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 168

Telephones - mobile cellular

169,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 174

Television broadcast stations

2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)

Agriculture - products

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

Budget

revenues: $141.2 million expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 62 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.08% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 102 8.34% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$199 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Debt - external

$257 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 176

Economy - overview

The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Although crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, tourism provides Saint Lucia's main source of income and the industry is the island's biggest employer. The tourism sector is likely to face declining revenues with the global economic downturn as US and European travel declines. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry, although recent hurricanes have caused exports to contract. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. The public debt-to-GDP ratio is about 70% and high debt servicing obligations constrain the KING administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be reduced.

Electricity - consumption

302.2 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

325 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Exports

$288 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 176

Exports - commodities

bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil

Exports - partners

UK 23.6%, US 19.3%, South Korea 16.6%, Antigua and Barbuda 5.9%, Dominica 5.8%, Barbados 5.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$987 million (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.774 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 $1.762 billion (2007 est.) $1.733 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 15% services: 80% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $11,100 (2007 est.) $11,000 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 1.7% (2007 est.) 5% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$791 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 178

Imports - commodities

food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners

Brazil 68%, US 11.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Labor force

79,700 (2007) country comparison to the world: 178

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 21.7% industry: 24.7% services: 53.6% (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Oil - consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Oil - imports

2,747 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of domestic credit

$1.378 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 99 $1.217 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$261.3 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 103 $264.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$800.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 100 $720.9 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

20% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Area

total: 616 sq km country comparison to the world: 193 land: 606 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August

Coastline

158 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

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, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.01 per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)

Geographic coordinates

13 53 N, 60 58 W

Geography - note

the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 6.45% permanent crops: 22.58% other: 70.97% (2005)

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards

hurricanes; volcanic activity

Natural resources

forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

Terrain

volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Administrative divisions

11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort

Capital

name: Castries geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

22 February 1979

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LOUIS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9 September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office 7 September 2007 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Flag description

blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

22 February 1979 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consists of a High Court and a Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; three judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Lucia); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP 50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Political parties and leaders

National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Stephenson KING]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 48,358 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 32,094 females age 16-49: 36,110 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,607 female: 1,511 (2009 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard) (2008)

Military expenditures

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.4% (male 20,035/female 19,021) 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 51,593/female 54,843) 65 years and over: 9.2% (male 6,668/female 8,107) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

15.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Death rate

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 29

Ethnic groups

black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 134 male: 12.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.45 years country comparison to the world: 67 male: 73.78 years female: 79.27 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 90.1% male: 89.5% female: 90.6% (2001 est.)

Median age

total: 29.8 years male: 28.7 years female: 30.8 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian

Net migration rate

-4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Population

160,267 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Population growth rate

0.416% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Religions

Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Urbanization

urban population: 28% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 201

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Roadways

total: 1,210 km (2002) country comparison to the world: 180