Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

6,500 telephones; islandwide fully automatic telephone system local: NA intercity: VHF/UHF interisland links from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines international: VHF/UHF interisland links from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF links to Grenada and to Saint Lucia

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 1 cable televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP SAN MARINO

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $66.2 expenditures: $77.3 million, including capital expenditures of $23 million (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $11 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $81 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 16,600 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 436 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports [time series]

$57.1 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets partners: UK 54%, CARICOM 34%, US 10%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$74.9 million (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$134.6 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels partners: US 36%, CARICOM 21%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

NA

Industries [time series]

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (1993 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $235 million (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$2,000 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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. In 1993, economic growth slowed to 1.4%, reflecting a sharp decline in agricultural production caused by drought. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue.

Unemployment rate [time series]

35%-40% (1994 est.)

Area [time series]

total area: 340 sq km land area: 340 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Coastline [time series]

84 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 38% permanent crops: 12% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 41% other: 3%

Location [time series]

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

negligible

Note [time series]

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

Terrain [time series]

volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Capital [time series]

Kingstown

Constitution [time series]

27 October 1979

Digraph [time series]

VC

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7806, 7846

Executive branch [time series]

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); Deputy Prime Minister Parnel CAMPBELL (since NA February 1994); note - governor general appoints leader of the majority party to position of prime minister cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 462-7807

Flag [time series]

three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

Legislative branch (House of Assembly) [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

27 October 1979 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia)

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

New Democratic Party (NDP), James MITCHELL (son of Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL); United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS; National Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party (ULP),Vincent BEACHE - formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for National Unity (MNU)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

constitutional monarchy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34% (female 19,551; male 20,185) 15-64 years: 61% (female 35,565; male 35,573) 65 years and over: 5% (female 3,793; male 2,677) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.62 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.46 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

African descent, Caucasian, East Indian, Carib Indian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

67,000 (1984 est.) by occupation: NA

Languages [time series]

English, French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.66 years male: 71.15 years female: 74.21 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Net migration rate [time series]

-7.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

117,344 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.65% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 4

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,000 km paved: 300 km unpaved: improved earth 400 km; unimproved earth 300 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 580 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,212,812 GRT/8,530,725 DWT ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 289, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 3, container 36, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 2, oil tanker 53, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 16 countries among which are Croatia 49 ships, Russia 23, Slovenia 11, China 8, Germany 3, Serbia 2, Latvia 1, Montenegro 1, Georgia 1, UAR 1

Ports [time series]

Kingstown

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km