Saint Lucia

Broadcast media

3 privately-owned TV stations; 1 public TV station operating on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service available; a mix of state-owned and privately-owned broadcasters operate nearly 25 radio stations including repeater transmission stations (2007)

Internet country code

.lc

Internet hosts

100 (2012) country comparison to the world: 210

Internet users

142,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 149

Telephone system

general assessment: an adequate system that is automatically switched domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 25 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 130 per 100 persons 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

35,900 (2011) country comparison to the world: 171

Telephones - mobile cellular

216,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 179

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $185.2 million expenditures: $222.2 million (2011 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.9% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.4% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 10.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$178.3 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 -$220.4 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$471.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $470.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Tourism is Saint Lucia's main source of jobs and income - accounting for 65% of GDP - and the island's main source of foreign exchange earnings. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area. Crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, but St. Lucia's once solid banana industry has been devasted by strong competition and by Hurricane Tomas in 2010. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks, including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, high public debt - 78% of GDP in 2012 - and high debt servicing obligations constrain the ANTHONY administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. St. Lucia has experienced anemic growth since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, largely because of a slowdown in tourism.

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$209.6 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $198.6 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, avacados, mangoes, coconut oil

Exports - partners

Colombia 21%, US 14.9%, Peru 8.5%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.1%, Dominica 7.9%, Barbados 7.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 6.6%, UK 5.6%, Grenada 5.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.259 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.234 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 $2.219 billion (2011 est.) $2.19 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 17% services: 80.2% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $13,300 (2011 est.) $13,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 1.3% (2011 est.) 0.4% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$526.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 $545.9 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Brazil 78.8%, US 8.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.1% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 2.8% (2011 est.)

Labor force

79,700 (2012) country comparison to the world: 185

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

77% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 77% of GDP (2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.149 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $1.113 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.469 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.442 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$271.2 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $250.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.7% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Unemployment rate

20% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

430,800 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - consumption

317.3 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity - installed generating capacity

76,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - production

358 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,922 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Refined petroleum products - exports

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

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,980 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Area

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

Area - comparative

three and a half 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 00 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 Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY 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 Kenny Davis ANTHONY (since 30 November 2011) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition 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; the blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

22 February 1979 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), 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

English common law

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 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 49.68%, UWP 45.83%; seats by party - SLP 11, UWP 6

National anthem

name: "Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia" lyrics/music: Charles JESSE/Leton Felix THOMAS note: adopted 1967

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

National symbol(s)

twin pitons (volcanic peaks); Saint Lucia parrot

Political parties and leaders

Lucian People's Movement or LPM [Therold PRUDENT]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenny ANTHONY]; 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: 41,414 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 32,688 females age 16-49: 36,289 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,574 female: 1,502 (2010 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Marine Unit) (2012)

Military expenditures

NA

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.2% (male 18,480/ female 17,466) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 53,361/ female 56,761) 65 years and over: 9.9% (male 7,284/ female 8,826) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

14.42 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 85

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

Health expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 57

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.39 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 130 male: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.04 years country comparison to the world: 70 male: 74.34 years female: 79.88 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

CASTRIES (capital) 15,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

35 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 118

Median age

total: 31.6 years male: 30.5 years female: 32.7 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian

Net migration rate

-3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Physicians density

0.473 physicians/1,000 population (2002)

Population

162,178 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Population growth rate

0.378% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Religions

Roman Catholic 67.5%, Protestant 18.2% (Seventh-Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%), other Christian 5.1%, Rastafarian 2.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 89% of population rural: 89% of population total: 89% of population unimproved: urban: 11% of population rural: 11% of population total: 11% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 40.8% country comparison to the world: 8 male: 37.1% female: 45.5% (2004)

Urbanization

urban population: 28% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/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 (2012) country comparison to the world: 209

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Roadways

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