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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.lc

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

103 (2009) country comparison to the world: 198

Internet users [time series]

100,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 155

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate system domestic: system is automatically switched 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

40,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 168

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

169,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 174

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $141.2 million expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 62 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.08% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 102 8.34% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

-$199 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Debt - external [time series]

$257 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 176

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Although crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, tourism provides Saint Lucia's main source of income and the industry is the island's biggest employer. The tourism sector is likely to face declining revenues with the global economic downturn as US and European travel declines. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry, although recent hurricanes have caused exports to contract. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. The public debt-to-GDP ratio is about 70% and high debt servicing obligations constrain the KING administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be reduced.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

302.2 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

325 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$288 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 176

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 23.6%, US 19.3%, South Korea 16.6%, Antigua and Barbuda 5.9%, Dominica 5.8%, Barbados 5.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$987 million (2008 est.)

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

$1.774 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 $1.762 billion (2007 est.) $1.733 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 5% industry: 15% services: 80% (2005 est.)

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

$11,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $11,100 (2007 est.) $11,000 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

0.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 1.7% (2007 est.) 5% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$791 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 178

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Brazil 68%, US 11.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Labor force [time series]

79,700 (2007) country comparison to the world: 178

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Oil - consumption [time series]

3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Oil - imports [time series]

2,747 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Oil - production [time series]

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

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.378 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 99 $1.217 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$261.3 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 103 $264.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$800.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 100 $720.9 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 616 sq km country comparison to the world: 193 land: 606 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 January to April, rainy season 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, 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.01 per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 53 N, 60 58 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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6.45% permanent crops: 22.58% other: 70.97% (2005)

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]

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 [time series]

hurricanes; 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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Castries geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LOUIS 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 [time series]

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 Stephenson KING (since 9 September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office 7 September 2007 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: 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

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 and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

22 February 1979 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP 50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6

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 [Stephenson KING]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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. 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 48,358 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 32,094 females age 16-49: 36,110 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 1,607 female: 1,511 (2009 est.)

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

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.4% (male 20,035/female 19,021) 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 51,593/female 54,843) 65 years and over: 9.2% (male 6,668/female 8,107) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Death rate [time series]

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 29

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 134 male: 12.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.45 years country comparison to the world: 67 male: 73.78 years female: 79.27 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 29.8 years male: 28.7 years female: 30.8 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian

Net migration rate [time series]

-4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Population [time series]

160,267 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Population growth rate [time series]

0.416% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.84 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 28% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 201

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Roadways [time series]

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