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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

3 privately-owned television stations; 1 public television station operating on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service is obtainable; a mix of state-owned and privately-owned broadcasters operate nearly 25 radio stations including repeater transmission stations (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.lc

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

106 (2010) country comparison to the world: 201

Internet users [time series]

142,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 149

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]

41,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 166

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

176,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 173

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 63 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.58% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 10.08% (31 December 2008 est.)

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: 172

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. Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, although tourism sector revenues declined with the global economic downturn as US and European travel dropped in 2009. 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 77% 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: 166

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: 165

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: 175

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Spain 29.41%, UK 15.28%, South Korea 10.54%, US 9.75%, India 9.52% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1 billion (2010 est.)

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

$1.789 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $1.769 billion (2009 est.) $1.866 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 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 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $11,000 (2009 est.) $11,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

1.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 -5.2% (2009 est.) 0.7% (2008 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: 179

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Brazil 83.44%, US 4.67%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.56% (2009)

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) [time series]

1.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Labor force [time series]

79,700 (2007) country comparison to the world: 183

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: 156

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Oil - consumption [time series]

3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Oil - imports [time series]

2,747 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.094 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 160 $1.061 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.378 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $1.217 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$244.3 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 169 $245 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 616 sq km country comparison to the world: 192 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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition 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; the blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island

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, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, 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 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held on 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 anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia" lyrics/music: Charles JESSE/Leton Felix THOMAS note: adopted 1967

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: 41,177 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 32,406 females age 16-49: 36,216 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 1,627 female: 1,521 (2010 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) (2010)

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Death rate [time series]

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.3% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 32

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: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 133 male: 12.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.65 years country comparison to the world: 67 male: 73.97 years female: 79.48 years (2010 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: 30.3 years male: 29.3 years female: 31.4 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Population [time series]

160,922 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Population growth rate [time series]

0.398% (2010 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: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.055 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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.82 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

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 (2010) country comparison to the world: 198

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

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