0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - imports:
1,225 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Current account balance:
-$163 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Exports:
$84 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 198
Exports - commodities:
machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 62.3%, Canada 7.93%, Azerbaijan 6.72% (2009)
Imports:
$383 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 189
Imports - commodities:
machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 43.37%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.26%, Italy 11.83% (2009)
Debt - external:
$314 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 171
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 Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
Telephone system:
general assessment: good interisland and international connections
domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable;
construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in
November 2004
international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by
the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean
fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables
Broadcast media:
the government operates a national television network that
broadcasts on 2 channels; cable subscription services provide access
to local and international channels; the government operates a
national radio network; a mix of government-owned and
privately-owned broadcasters operate roughly 15 radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.kn
Internet hosts:
51 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 210
Internet users:
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 197
Transportation ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 204
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 50 km
country comparison to the world: 131
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)
Roadways:
total: 383 km
country comparison to the world: 199
paved: 163 km
unpaved: 220 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 160
country comparison to the world: 40
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 92, chemical tanker 4, combination
ore/oil 1, container 3, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 5,
petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 94 (Bahrain 1, Belgium 1, China 1, Estonia 3, Italy
1, Japan 3, Kuwait 3, Latvia 2, Malaysia 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 3,
Russia 11, Singapore 5, Syria 5, Turkey 22, UAE 17, UK 2, Ukraine
10, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Basseterre, Charlestown
Military ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard),
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force; for national security,
Saint Kitts and Nevis relies on the Regional Security System,
headquartered in Barbados (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,510
females age 16-49: 13,075 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,736
females age 16-49: 10,913 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 402
female: 430 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
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; some money-laundering activity
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Lucia (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Lucia
Background:
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.
Geography ::Saint Lucia
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 616 sq km
country comparison to the world: 192
land: 606 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
158 km
Maritime claims:
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
Climate:
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to
April, rainy season May to August
Terrain:
volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs,
geothermal potential
Land use:
arable land: 6.45%
permanent crops: 22.58%
other: 70.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.01
per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
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
People ::Saint Lucia
Population:
160,922 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Age structure:
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.)
Median age:
total: 30.3 years
male: 29.3 years
female: 31.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.398% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Birth rate:
14.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Death rate:
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Net migration rate:
-3.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Urbanization:
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.65 years
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 73.97 years
female: 79.48 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.82 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:
black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified
3.1% (2001 census)
Religions:
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)
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Government ::Saint Lucia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery,
Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:
22 February 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:
22 February 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 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 the World 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
Legislative branch:
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
Judicial branch:
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)
Political parties and leaders:
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 pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to
Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:
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
National anthem:
name: "Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia"
lyrics/music: Charles JESSE/Leton Felix THOMAS
note: adopted 1967
Economy ::Saint Lucia
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$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 (official exchange rate):
$1 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
-5.2% (2009 est.)
0.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$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
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 15%
services: 80% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
79,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 183
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.58% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
10.08% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$244.3 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
$245 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.094 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
$1.061 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.378 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.217 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Industries:
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated
cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
325 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - consumption:
302.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - imports:
2,747 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Current account balance:
-$199 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Exports:
$288 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 175
Exports - commodities:
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
Spain 29.41%, UK 15.28%, South Korea 10.54%, US 9.75%, India 9.52%
(2009)
Imports:
$791 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 179
Imports - commodities:
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:
Brazil 83.44%, US 4.67%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.56% (2009)
Debt - external:
$257 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 172
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 Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use:
41,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Telephones - mobile cellular:
176,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Telephone system:
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
Broadcast media:
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:
.lc
Internet hosts:
106 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 201
Internet users:
142,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 149
Transportation ::Saint Lucia
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 198
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,210 km (2002)
country comparison to the world: 180
Ports and terminals:
Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Military ::Saint Lucia
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes
Special Service Unit and Coast Guard) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 41,177 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 32,406
females age 16-49: 36,216 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,627
female: 1,521 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Lucia
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:
transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Martin (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Martin
Background:
Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for
Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set
about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in
1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally
relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it
amongst themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused
the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with
the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island
(about 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the
island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished
until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism
industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In
2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe
and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French
overseas collectivity.
Geography ::Saint Martin
Location:
island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 05 N, 63 57 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 54.4 sq km
country comparison to the world: 230
land: 54.4 sq km
water: NEGL
Area - comparative:
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
border countries: Sint Maarten 15 km
Coastline:
58.9 km (for entire island)
Climate:
temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity,
gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-November is
the hurricane season
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
Natural resources:
salt
Natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes from July to November
Environment - current issues:
fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water
Geography - note:
the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world
shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint
Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten
People ::Saint Martin
Population:
30,235 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 3,991/female 4,048)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 9,596/female 10,532)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 742/female 911) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 29.7 years
female: 31.6 years (2010 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Ethnic groups:
creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia),
white, East Indian
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
Languages:
French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish,
Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)
Government ::Saint Martin
Country name: