Introduction
Background
Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. Disputed by France and the UK for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to Brittan 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.
Geography
Area
total: 389 sq km
land: 389 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Climate
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Natural resources
hydropower, arable land
People and Society
Population
100,804 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
African descent 71.2%, mixed 23%, Indigenous 3%, East Indian/Indian 1.1%, European 1.5%, other 0.2% (2012 est.)
Languages
English, Vincentian Creole English, French patois
Religions
Protestant 75% (Pentecostal 27.6%, Anglican 13.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.6%, Baptist 8.9%, Methodist 8.7%, Evangelical 3.8%, Salvation Army 0.3%, Presbyterian/Congregational 0.3%), Roman Catholic 6.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, other 4.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 4.7% (2012 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.16% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital
name: Kingstown
Executive branch
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Susan DOUGAN (since 1 August 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral House of Assembly (23 seats; 15 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 6 senators appointed by the governor general, and 2 ex officio members - the speaker of the house and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Caribbean island economy; key agriculture and tourism sectors; environmentally fragile; diversifying economy across services, science and knowledge, and creative industries; CARICOM member and US Caribbean Basin Initiative beneficiary
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.429 billion (2021 est.)
$1.41 billion (2020 est.)
$1.489 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$13,700 (2021 est.)
$13,500 (2020 est.)
$14,200 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
bananas, sugar cane, roots/tubers, plantains, vegetables, fruit, coconuts, sweet potatoes, yams, mangoes/guavas
Industries
tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Remittances
9.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
6.96% of GDP (2020 est.)
8.72% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$125.777 million (2021 est.)
$188.834 million (2020 est.)
$327.51 million (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
Netherlands 45%, India 9%, United States 6%, Barbados 5%, Greece 5% (2021)
Exports - commodities
recreational boats, drilling platforms, cargo ships, wheat flours, animal food, collector's items (2021)
Imports
$415.725 million (2021 est.)
$373.621 million (2020 est.)
$425.28 million (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
United States 29%, Netherlands 15%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, China 8%, France 5% (2021)
Imports - commodities
dredger ships, refined petroleum, floating docks, aircraft, poultry, packaged medicines (2021)
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)
2.7 (2019 est.)
2.7 (2018 est.)
2.7 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, December 06, 2023
