total: 0.01
per capita: 83 cu m/yr (1995)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a
constant threat
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
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
People ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population:
104,574 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
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.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 29 years
female: 28.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.344% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
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
Net migration rate:
-11.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:
black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian
2%, other 3%
Religions:
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes
Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Languages:
English, French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
8.1% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 14
Government ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint
George, Saint Patrick
Independence:
27 October 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:
27 October 1979
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
Economy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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.
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 (official exchange rate):
$601 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
7% (2007 est.)
7.6% (2006 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 - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
57,520 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million (2000 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
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)
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)
Stock of domestic credit:
$417.4 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
$387.8 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle,
sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Electricity - production:
133.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
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.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
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 - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
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 - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Current account balance:
-$149 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
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)
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)
Debt - external:
$223 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 178
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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
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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2004)
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
Transportation ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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)
Roadways:
total: 829 km
country comparison to the world: 185
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)
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
Military ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Police Force, Coast Guard (2009)
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 expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Samoa (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Samoa
Background:
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the
outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the
islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when
the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish
independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western"
from its name in 1997.
Geography ::Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way
between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2,831 sq km
country comparison to the world: 177
land: 2,821 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to
October)
Terrain:
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and
uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky,
rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
People ::Samoa
Population:
219,998
country comparison to the world: 184
note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a
highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in
the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in
the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993
number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures
(July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.6% (male 42,117/female 40,603)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 65,541/female 59,292)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,538/female 6,907) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.8 years
male: 21 years
female: 20.5 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.346% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Birth rate:
28.06 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Death rate:
5.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Net migration rate:
-8.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Urbanization:
urban population: 23% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.22 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 90
male: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.86 years
country comparison to the world: 124
male: 69.03 years
female: 74.84 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.16 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood)
7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%,
Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist
3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%,
unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 95
Government ::Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
local short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 44 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga,
Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga,
Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence:
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962
is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship; it is observed in June
Constitution:
1 January 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of
legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of
state on the prime minister's advice
elections: chief of state is elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 15 June
2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by
the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 elected by
voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral
districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or
part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a
village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to
the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: election last held 31 March 2006 (next election to be
held not later than March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles Court
Political parties and leaders:
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi
TUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];
Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Party
or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or
SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400J, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196 through 6197
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: none; US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited
to Samoa
embassy: Accident Corporation Building, 5th Floor, Matafele, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia
telephone: [685] 21436/21631/21452/22696
FAX: [685] 22030
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing
five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation
Economy ::Samoa
Economy - overview: