Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Broadcast media

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately-owned radio stations and repeater stations (2007)

Internet country code

.vc

Internet hosts

305 (2012) country comparison to the world: 191

Internet users

76,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 169

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 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

22,700 (2011) country comparison to the world: 186

Telephones - mobile cellular

131,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 185

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $185.2 million expenditures: $185.2 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.3% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 9.13% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$226.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 -$221.6 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$252.2 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $264.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

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 2008, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines, a drop of nearly 20% from 2007. 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 public debt burden, which was 68% of GDP at the end of 2011. GDP grew on average 6% annually from 2002-07, but contracted between 2008-10 as a result of the global economic downturn; growth remains slow.

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$68.3 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $64.4 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Trinidad and Tobago 12%, Austria 12%, St. Lucia 10.7%, France 9.5%, Turkey 8.9%, Barbados 8.9%, Dominica 7%, Grenada 6.7%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.1% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$717 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.301 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 200 $1.285 billion (2011 est.) $1.284 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 6.4% industry: 19.9% services: 73.6% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,900 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $11,700 (2011 est.) $11,700 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 0% (2011 est.) -1.8% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$366.5 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 192 $348 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Singapore 24.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 17.6%, US 12.6%, China 12.3%, Norway 7.5% (2011)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 1.9% (2011 est.)

Labor force

57,520 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

68% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Stock of broad money

$431.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $411.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$408.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 $389.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$135 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $122.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Unemployment rate

15% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

332,600 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - consumption

122.8 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - from fossil fuels

81.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

18.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - installed generating capacity

49,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Electricity - production

132 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,948 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,474 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Area

total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) country comparison to the world: 204 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 08 N, 61 13 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 (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 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, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush vegetation

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

27 October 1979 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), 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

English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 13 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 51.6%, NDP 47.8%; seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7

National anthem

name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!" lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL note: adopted 1967

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 Saint 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: 27,809 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 22,875 females age 16-49: 22,015 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 964 female: 953 (2010 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard; for national defense, Saint Vincent relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados (2010)

Military expenditures

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 12,509/ female 12,306) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 36,148/ female 34,072) 65 years and over: 8.2% (male 3,892/ female 4,610) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

14.36 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Death rate

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 20

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

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 123

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.86 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 124 male: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

English, French patois

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.39 years country comparison to the world: 107 male: 72.48 years female: 76.36 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

KINGSTOWN (capital) 28,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

48 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 109

Median age

total: 30.7 years male: 30.8 years female: 30.6 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-10.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Physicians density

0.7542 physicians/1,000 population (2000)

Population

103,537 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Population growth rate

-0.313% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Religions

Protestant 75% (Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%), Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 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: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Urbanization

urban population: 49% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/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 (2012) country comparison to the world: 177

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 412 country comparison to the world: 25 by type: bulk carrier 64, cargo 263, carrier 14, chemical tanker 4, container 18, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 325 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 7, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 9, China 65, Croatia 8, Cyprus 3, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 9, Dominica 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 8, France 2, Germany 3, Greece 42, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 5, Israel 3, Italy 4, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 9, Monaco 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 13, Poland 3, Romania 1, Russia 11, Singapore 5, Slovenia 1, Sweden 10, Switzerland 7, Syria 9, Turkey 13, UAE 3, UK 6, Ukraine 12, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Kingstown

Roadways

total: 829 km country comparison to the world: 186 paved: 580 km unpaved: 249 km (2003)