Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Internet country code

.vc

Internet hosts

181 (2009) country comparison to the world: 190

Internet users

66,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 165

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate system domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Telephones - main lines in use

22,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 190

Telephones - mobile cellular

130,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 178

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2004)

Agriculture - products

bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish

Budget

revenues: $94.6 million expenditures: $85.8 million (2000 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 61 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.52% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 8.8% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$149 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Debt - external

$223 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 178

Economy - overview

Economic growth slowed in 2008 after reaching a 10-year high of nearly 7% in 2006, and will likely slow in 2009 with the global economic downturn, though it will be above average for Latin America. Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2007, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high debt burden - 25% of current revenues are directed towards debt servicing. An agreement with Italy to write-off debt reduced the public debt-to-GDP ratio to about 70%. The GONSALVES administration is directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011.

Electricity - consumption

124.4 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

133.8 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$193 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 182

Exports - commodities

bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets

Exports - partners

Greece 31.8%, France 18.9%, India 9.9%, China 8.3%, Italy 7.5% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$601 million (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.072 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 $1.063 billion (2007 est.) $993.4 million (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10% industry: 26% services: 64% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $10,100 (2007 est.) $9,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 7% (2007 est.) 7.6% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$578 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 184

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Imports - partners

Singapore 27.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.2%, US 12.1%, China 8.5%, Italy 7.1%, Norway 5.1% (2008)

Industries

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Labor force

57,520 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 26% industry: 17% services: 57% (1980 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Oil - imports

1,451 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of domestic credit

$417.4 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 116 $387.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$150.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 108 $155.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$302.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 113 $280.2 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

15% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Area

total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) country comparison to the world: 202 land: 389 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Coastline

84 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m

Environment - current issues

pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Environment - international agreements

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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.01 per capita: 83 cu m/yr (1995)

Geographic coordinates

13 15 N, 61 12 W

Geography - note

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 17.95% permanent crops: 17.95% other: 64.1% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Natural resources

hydropower, cropland

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Administrative divisions

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Capital

name: Kingstown geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

27 October 1979

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001) 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 is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Flag description

three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

27 October 1979 (from the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a High Court and Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and six appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 55.3%, NDP 44.7%; seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Political parties and leaders

New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 34,373 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 22,975 females age 16-49: 22,250 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,020 female: 1,009 (2009 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.9% (male 13,637/female 13,425) 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 35,693/female 33,701) 65 years and over: 7.8% (male 3,659/female 4,459) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

15.27 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Death rate

6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Education expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 14

Ethnic groups

black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 127 male: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

English, French patois

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.65 years country comparison to the world: 102 male: 71.82 years female: 75.54 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% (1970 est.)

Median age

total: 28.9 years male: 29 years female: 28.9 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Net migration rate

-11.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Population

104,574 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Population growth rate

-0.344% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 223

Religions

Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Urbanization

urban population: 47% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

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

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

Airports

6 (2009) country comparison to the world: 174

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 525 country comparison to the world: 21 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 83, cargo 315, carrier 20, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 2, container 21 foreign-owned: 476 (Austria 2, Barbados 1, Belgium 8, Bulgaria 15, Canada 1, China 94, Croatia 7, Cyprus 1, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 16, Egypt 3, Estonia 16, France 6, Germany 3, Gibraltar 1, Greece 71, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 6, Iceland 7, India 7, Iran 1, Israel 2, Italy 17, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 17, Lebanon 6, Lithuania 9, Monaco 5, Montenegro 1, Namibia 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 13, Poland 1, Puerto Rico 1, Romania 1, Russia 21, Singapore 4, Slovenia 5, South Africa 1, Sweden 2, Switzerland 6, Syria 13, Turkey 20, Ukraine 11, UAE 9, UK 14, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Kingstown

Roadways

total: 829 km country comparison to the world: 185 paved: 580 km unpaved: 249 km (2003)