Saint Lucia, State of the Caribbean; 616 km2, 182 000 residents (2019).Saint Lucia is located between Martinique and Saint Vincent. The capital is Castries (9,100 residents, 2012).
Country facts
- Saint Lucia / Saint Lucia
- Country abbreviation: LC
- Area: 616 km2
- Population (2019): 182,000 residents
- Capital: Castries
- Main languages: English, Creole French
- State: Monarchy
- Head of State: Elizabeth II (Queen)
- Head of Government: Allen Chastanet
- Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 10,315
- GNI per capita (2018): US $ 9,460
- Currency unit: 1 East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents
- Currency code: XCD
- Country number (telephony): 1
- Internet domain name: lc
- Time difference compared to Sweden: −5
- National Day: February 22 (Independence Day, 1979)
Nature
- Land use: forest (13%), agricultural land (30%), other (57%)
- Highest mountain: Mount Gimie (950 m asl)
Population
- Population density (2019): 295 residents per km2
- Natural population growth (2019): 0.5%; birth rate 12 ‰, death rate 7 ‰
- Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (19%), 15-64 (72%), 65- (9%)
- Life expectancy (2019): men 75 years, women 83 years
- Infant mortality (2019): 13 per 1,000 live births
- Population forecast 2050: 200,000 residents
- HDI (2017): 0.747 (place 90 of 189)
- Urbanization rate (2019): 19%
- Most populous city (2012): Castries (9,100 residents)
Business
- Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (3%), industry (14%), service (83%)
- Exports (2017): US $ 185 million
- Main export products: bananas, clothing, coconut products
- Main exporting countries: USA, UK, Trinidad and Tobago
- Imports (2017): US $ 600 million
- Main import products: food, machinery, transport equipment
- Main importing countries: USA, Trinidad and Tobago
- Railway network: nothing in operation
Saint Lucia is located between Martinique and Saint Vincent and is of volcanic origin. Rivers from the mountains have carved fertile valleys on the slopes of the island. It has a warm and humid tropical climate.
The country is a member of the Commonwealth, and the head of state is the British monarch, represented in the country by a general governor. Parliament consists of two chambers: the lower house is elected for five years, and the upper house is appointed by the Governor-General on a proposal from the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. The country became independent in 1979.
Banana production is traditionally the basis of Saint Lucia’s economy, but in recent years tourism and industry, including The textile and plastics industry, refinery and assembly plants for electronic components, have become increasingly important. A large part of industrial production takes place in free zones.