Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

104,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: system is automatically switched international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

26,000 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 ( two commercial stations and one cable)

Televisions [time series]

26,000 (1992 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $361.5 million expenditures: $311 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$115 million (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

34,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

801 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)

Exports [time series]

total value: $104.1 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil partners: UK 56%, US 22%, Caricom countries 19% (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $695 million (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture : 13.8% industry: 17.4% services: 68.8% (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $4,400 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.3% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $270.5 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels partners: US 34%, Caricom countries 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA %

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

3% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 43,800 by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

25% (1995 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 620 sq km land: 610 sq km water : 10 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

158 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 53 N, 60 68 W

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 8% permanent crops : 21% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 13% other: 53% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

hurricanes and volcanic activity

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

22 February 1979

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Data code [time series]

ST

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General William George MALLET (since 1 June 1996) head of government : Prime Minister Vaughn LEWIS (since 31 March 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

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

[1] (202) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: New York

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

22 February 1979 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT (associate), ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body, six 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 from single member constituencies to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held NA May 1997) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Castries

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

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

United Workers' Party (UWP), Vaughn LEWIS; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Kenneth ANTHONY; Saint Lucia Freedom Party (SLFP), Martinus FRANCOIS

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$5 million (1991); note - for police forces

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2% (1991)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : NA

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: NA

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years : 35% (male 26,430; female 26,018) 15-64 years: 60% (male 44,117; female 45,922) 65 years and over: 5% (male 3,091; female 5,052) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.31 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.36 years male : 67.74 years female: 75.23 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 67% male: 65% female : 69% (1980 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun : Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

150,630 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.14% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.44 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON (territorial collectivity of France)

Airports [time series]

3 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 760 km paved: 500 km unpaved : 260 km

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Castries, Vieux Fort

Railways [time series]

0 km