|
Introduction - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Background:
Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. 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 - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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: 202
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:
Current Weather
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 (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.01
per capita: 83 cu 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 - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population:
104,217 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 13,222/female 13,015)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 35,889/female 33,859)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 3,728/female 4,504) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.5 years
male: 29.6 years
female: 29.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.341% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Birth rate:
14.89 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Death rate:
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Net migration rate:
-11.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 127
male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.9 years
country comparison to the world: 107
male: 72.04 years
female: 75.82 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.94 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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%
Religions:
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Languages:
English, French patois
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: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
8.1% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 14
Government - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ 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 7 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 55.3%, NDP 44.7%; seats by
party - ULP 12, NDP 3
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, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, 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
Economy - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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 debt burden -
25% of current revenues are directed towards debt servicing. An agreement with
Italy to write-off debt reduced the public debt-to-GDP ratio to about 70%.
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):
$1.55 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
$1.659 billion (2008 est.)
$1.613 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$632.3 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-6.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
2.8% (2008 est.)
6.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$19,600 (2008 est.)
$19,300 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 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%
Budget:
revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million (2000 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
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:
9.52% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
8.8% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$150.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 150
$155.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$302.7 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 142
$280.2 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$417.4 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
$387.8 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs,
goats; fish
Industries:
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Electricity - production:
133.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - consumption:
124.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - imports:
1,451 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Current account balance:
-$149 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Exports:
$193 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 180
Exports - commodities:
bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
Exports - partners:
Greece 40.04%, Poland 11.78%, France 9.05%, China 8.53%, India 4.71% (2009)
Imports:
$578 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 185
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and
fuels
Imports - partners:
Singapore 16.16%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.71%, US 13.41%, China 10.9%, Italy
8.89%, Turkey 6.6%, France 5.64%, Romania 4.44% (2009)
Debt - external:
$223 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 172
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005),
2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 190
Telephones - mobile cellular:
130,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 178
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone
from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines; mobile-cellular
teledensity exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS)
and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry
international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from
Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access
to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2004)
Internet country code:
.vc
Internet hosts:
181 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 190
Internet users:
66,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 165
Transportation - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Airports:
6 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 174
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 829 km
country comparison to the world: 186
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 525
country comparison to the world: 21
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 83, cargo 315, carrier 20, chemical
tanker 2, liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 17,
refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 2, container 21
foreign-owned: 476 (Austria 2, Barbados 1, Belgium 8, Bulgaria 15, Canada 1,
China 94, Croatia 7, Cyprus 1, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 16, Egypt 3, Estonia
16, France 6, Germany 3, Gibraltar 1, Greece 71, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 6, Iceland
7, India 7, Iran 1, Israel 2, Italy 17, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 17, Lebanon 6,
Lithuania 9, Monaco 5, Montenegro 1, Namibia 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 13, Poland
1, Puerto Rico 1, Romania 1, Russia 21, Singapore 4, Slovenia 5, South Africa 1,
Sweden 2, Switzerland 6, Syria 13, Turkey 20, Ukraine 11, UAE 9, UK 14, US 18,
Venezuela 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Kingstown
Military - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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: 27,940 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,932
females age 16-49: 22,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 990
female: 979 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe;
small-scale cannabis cultivation
|
