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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 24,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

3 privately owned TV stations; 1 public TV station on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service available; mix of state-owned and privately owned radio broadcasters with about 25 stations, including repeater transmission stations (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.lc

Internet users [time series]

percent of population: 74% (2022 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 31,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 176,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products [time series]

coconuts, bananas, tropical fruits, fruits, root vegetables, plantains, vegetables, cassava, chicken, milk (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget [time series]

revenues: $414.77 million (2017 est.) expenditures: $351.956 million (2017 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance [time series]

-$64.121 million (2024 est.) -$38.069 million (2023 est.) -$83.442 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external [time series]

$901.317 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview [time series]

upper middle-income, tourism-based Caribbean island economy; environmentally fragile; energy import-dependent; major banana producer; well-educated labor force; key infrastructure, IT, and communications investments

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2024 est.) 2.7 (2023 est.) 2.7 (2022 est.) 2.7 (2021 est.) 2.7 (2020 est.)

Exports [time series]

$1.6 billion (2024 est.) $1.419 billion (2023 est.) $1.29 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, gravel and crushed stone, beer, liquor, paper containers (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners [time series]

Guyana 20%, Suriname 15%, USA 11%, Barbados 8%, Dominica 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.549 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 66.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 62.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -56.9% (2017 est.)

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

agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.) industry: 9.8% (2024 est.) services: 75.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]

51.2 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2015 est.) highest 10%: 34.1% (2015 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports [time series]

$1.446 billion (2024 est.) $1.292 billion (2023 est.) $1.2 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, poultry, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners [time series]

USA 59%, Guyana 8%, Brazil 7%, China 5%, UK 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-0.1% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 6.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force [time series]

102,400 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line [time series]

25% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt [time series]

69.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$4.359 billion (2024 est.) $4.196 billion (2023 est.) $4.105 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

3.9% (2024 est.) 2.2% (2023 est.) 20.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$24,300 (2024 est.) $23,400 (2023 est.) $23,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances [time series]

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$406.064 million (2024 est.) $424.324 million (2023 est.) $389.083 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (2024 est.) 11.1% (2023 est.) 16% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 29% (2024 est.) male: 31.4% (2024 est.) female: 26.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Energy

Electricity [time series]

installed generating capacity: 93,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 365.178 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 31.038 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources [time series]

fossil fuels: 98% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita [time series]

47.522 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum [time series]

refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]

605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate [time series]

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

Environmental issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

International environmental agreements [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 16.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.) forest: 53.7% (2023 est.) other: 30% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions [time series]

8.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources [time series]

300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal [time series]

municipal: 12.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 30.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling [time series]

municipal solid waste generated annually: 77,600 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total : 616 sq km land: 606 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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 [time series]

highest point: Mount Gimie 948 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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 Soufri re, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

Irrigated land [time series]

30 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 16.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.) forest: 53.7% (2023 est.) other: 30% (2023 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]

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 volcanism: Mount Gimie (948 m), also known as Qualibou, is a caldera on the west of the island; the iconic twin pyramidal peaks of Gros Piton (771 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are lava-dome remnants associated with the Soufri re volcano; there have been no historical magmatic eruptions, but a minor steam eruption in 1766 spread a thin layer of ash over a wide area; Saint Lucia is part of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south

Natural resources [time series]

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

Population distribution [time series]

most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries

Terrain [time series]

volcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 districts; Anse-la-Raye, Canaries, Castries, Choiseul, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Soufri re, Vieux-Fort

Capital [time series]

name: Castries geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 61 00 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: in 1785, the village of Carenage was renamed Castries, after Charles Eugene Gabriel de La Croix de CASTRIES, who was then the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Lucia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years

Constitution [time series]

history: previous 1958, 1960 (pre-independence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Assembly membership in the final reading and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to various constitutional sections, such as those on fundamental rights and freedoms, government finances, the judiciary, and procedures for amending the constitution, require at least three-quarters majority vote by the House and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments approved by the House but rejected by the Senate require a majority of votes cast in a referendum

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia etymology: believed to be named after Saint LUCY (Sainte ALOUSIE) of Syracuse by French sailors who were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December 1502, the saint's feast day note: pronounced saynt-LOO-shuh

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

embassy: 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 Elizabeth DARIUS-CLARKE (since 7 June 2022) chancery: 1629 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723 email address and website: embassydc@gosl.gov.lc https://www.embassyofstlucia.org/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Acting Governor General Cyril Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general

Flag [time series]

description: cerulean blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border meaning: blue stands for the sky and sea, gold for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black for the ethnic composition of the island; the triangles represent Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

22 February 1979 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: magistrate's court

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

legislature name: Houses of Parliament legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber [time series]

chamber name: House of Assembly number of seats: 18 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/26/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) (13); United Workers Party (UWP) (2); Independents (2) percentage of women in chamber: 10.5% expected date of next election: December 2025

Legislative branch - upper chamber [time series]

chamber name: Senate number of seats: 11 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/17/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 54.5% expected date of next election: December 2025

National anthem(s) [time series]

title: "Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia" lyrics/music: Charles JESSE/Leton Felix THOMAS history: adopted 1967 title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: in use since 1745

National color(s) [time series]

cerulean blue, gold, black, white

National heritage [time series]

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

National symbol(s) [time series]

twin pitons (volcanic peaks), Saint Lucia parrot

Political parties [time series]

Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP United Workers Party or UWP

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

England and France contested Saint Lucia -- with its fine natural harbor at Castries and burgeoning sugar industry -- throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries, with possession changing 14 times; it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814 and became part of the British Windward Islands colony. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. In the mid-20th century, Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation (1958 1962) and in 1967 became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979, Saint Lucia gained full independence.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

Saint Lucia has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular military forces; Ministry of Home Affairs, Justice, and National Security: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) (2025)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.9% (male 15,505/female 14,607) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 54,260/female 57,747) 65 years and over: 15.4% (2024 est.) (male 11,752/female 14,167)

Alcohol consumption per capita [time series]

total: 9.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 5.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.17 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 50.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 26.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 24.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.1 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

urban: 97.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 96.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 96.9% of population (2022 est.) urban: 2.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 3.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 12.7% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Black/African descent 85.3%, mixed 10.9%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Gross reproduction rate [time series]

0.83 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure [time series]

6.2% of GDP (2021) 9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density [time series]

2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

English (official), Saint Lucian Creole

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.4 years (2024 est.) male: 76.7 years female: 82.3 years

Major urban areas - population [time series]

22,000 CASTRIES (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio [time series]

44 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 40.4 years (2025 est.) male: 38.4 years female: 40.9 years

Nationality [time series]

noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

19.7% (2016)

Physician density [time series]

4.23 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population [time series]

total: 168,462 (2025 est.) male: 81,678 female: 86,784

Population distribution [time series]

most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries

Population growth rate [time series]

0.25% (2025 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 61.5%, Protestant 25.5% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 10.4%, Pentecostal 8.9%, Baptist 2.2%, Anglican 1.6%, Church of God 1.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Evangelical 2.3% and Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), Rastafarian 1.9%, other 0.4%, none 5.9%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

urban: 97.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 92.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 93.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 2.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 7.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 6.2% of population (2022 est.)

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

total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 12 years (2023 est.) female: 13 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use [time series]

total: 13.1% (2025 est.) male: 24.1% (2025 est.) female: 2.6% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.71 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Saint Lucia was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/saint-lucia/

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

Ports [time series]

total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Castries, Grand Cul de Sac Bay, Vieux Fort