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