Saint Lucia

Location

• Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
• the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufrière, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Gros Islet	25,210
Castries	20,000	Capital

Size

• 238 square miles
• 616 square kilometers
• 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

History

England and France contested Saint Lucia -- with its fine natural harbor at Castries and burgeoning sugar industry -- throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries, with possession changing 14 times; it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814 and became part of the British Windward Islands colony. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. In the mid-20th century, Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation (1958–1962) and in 1967 became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979, Saint Lucia gained full independence.

Climate

tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August

Terrain

volcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys

Languages

English (official), Saint Lucian Creole

Religions

Roman Catholic 61.5%, Protestant 25.5% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 10.4%, Pentecostal 8.9%, Baptist 2.2%, Anglican 1.6%, Church of God 1.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Evangelical 2.3% and Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), Rastafarian 1.9%, other 0.4%, none 5.9%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)

Government

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Constitution: history: previous 1958, 1960 (pre-independence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Assembly membership in the final reading and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to various constitutional sections, such as those on fundamental rights and freedoms, government finances, the judiciary, and procedures for amending the constitution, require at least three-quarters majority vote by the House and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments approved by the House but rejected by the Senate require a majority of votes cast in a referendum
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: English common law
• Executive Branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Acting Governor General Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021)head of government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime ministerelection/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justicejudge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62subordinate courts: magistrate's court
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Houses of Parliamentlegislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• upper middle-income, tourism-based Caribbean island economy; environmentally fragile; energy import-dependent; major banana producer; well-educated labor force; key infrastructure, IT, and communications investments
• Budget: revenues: $414.77 million (2017 est.)expenditures: $351.956 million (2017 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
• Industries: tourism; clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, lime processing, coconut processing
• Agricultural Products: coconuts, bananas, tropical fruits, fruits, root vegetables, plantains, vegetables, cassava, chicken, milk (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 16.3% (2022 est.)arable land: 4.4% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 11.3% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 0.6% (2022 est.)forest: 34% (2022 est.)other: 49.7% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, poultry, plastic products (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: USA 59%, Guyana 8%, Brazil 7%, China 5%, UK 3% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: refined petroleum, gravel and crushed stone, beer, liquor, paper containers (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Guyana 20%, Suriname 15%, USA 11%, Barbados 8%, Dominica 7% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports