Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

15 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.lc

Internet users [time series]

3,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

111,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate system 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

37,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1,600 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

32,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $141.2 million expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XCD

Debt - external [time series]

$214 million (2000) (2000)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$51.8 million (1995) (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Despite negative growth in 2001, economic fundamentals remain solid, and GDP growth should recover in 2002.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

106.95 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

115 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports [time series]

$68.3 million (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $700 million (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 8% industry: 20% services: 73% (2000 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2001 est.)

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

-2.5% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$319.4 million (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-8.9% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (2001 est.)

Labor force [time series]

43,800

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 43%, services 39%, industry and commerce 18% (1981 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% (1996 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 616 sq km water: 10 sq km land: 606 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 53 N, 60 68 W

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4.92% permanent crops: 22.95% other: 72.13% (1998 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]

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

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

Capital [time series]

Castries

Constitution [time series]

22 February 1979

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997) elections: none; 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 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

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]

Westminster-style parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

22 February 1979 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, 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 (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 from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3 elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

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

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 [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

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

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

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

$NA

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31.6% (male 25,879; female 24,695) 15-64 years: 63.1% (male 49,667; female 51,482) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 3,134; female 5,288) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.37 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.82 years female: 76.64 years (2002 est.) male: 69.26 years

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]

-3.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

160,145 (July 2002 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.34 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Airports [time series]

2 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,210 km paved: 63 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1996)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Castries, Vieux Fort

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none