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Saint Lucia

Code: ST | Region: Central America N Caribbean

Introduction

Background

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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.

Geography

Location

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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates

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13 53 N, 60 58 W

Map references

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Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total

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616 sq km

land

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606 sq km

water

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10 sq km

Area - comparative

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3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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158 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

contiguous zone

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24 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

continental shelf

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200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

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

Terrain

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volcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys

Elevation

highest point

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Mount Gimie 948 m

lowest point

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Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural resources

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forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

Land use

agricultural land

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16.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)

forest

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53.7% (2023 est.)

other

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30% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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30 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries

Natural hazards

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hurricanes <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> Mount Gimie (948 m), also known as Qualibou, is a caldera on the west of the island; the iconic twin pyramidal peaks of Gros Piton (771 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are lava-dome remnants associated with the Soufrière volcano; there have been no historical magmatic eruptions, but a minor steam eruption in 1766 spread a thin layer of ash over a wide area; Saint Lucia is part of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south

Geography - note

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the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufri&egrave;re, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

People and Society

Population

total

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168,462 (2025 est.)

male

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81,678

female

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86,784

Nationality

noun

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Saint Lucian(s)

adjective

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Saint Lucian

Ethnic groups

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Black/African descent 85.3%, mixed 10.9%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Languages

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English (official), Saint Lucian Creole

Religions

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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.)

Age structure

0-14 years

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17.9% (male 15,505/female 14,607)

15-64 years

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66.7% (male 54,260/female 57,747)

65 years and over

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15.4% (2024 est.) (male 11,752/female 14,167)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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50.9 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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26.6 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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24.3 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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4.1 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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40.4 years (2025 est.)

male

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38.4 years

female

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40.9 years

Population growth rate

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0.25% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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11.17 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries

Urbanization

urban population

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19.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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22,000 CASTRIES (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.83 male(s)/female

total population

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0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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44 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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10.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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79.4 years (2024 est.)

male

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76.7 years

female

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82.3 years

Total fertility rate

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1.71 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.83 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 96.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 96.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 3.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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6.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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4.23 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

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2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 92.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 93.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 7.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 6.2% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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19.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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9.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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3.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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5.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

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13.1% (2025 est.)

male

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24.1% (2025 est.)

female

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2.6% (2025 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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3.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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12.7% national budget (2025 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

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13 years (2023 est.)

male

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12 years (2023 est.)

female

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13 years (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

International environmental agreements

party to

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Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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

Land use

agricultural land

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16.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)

forest

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53.7% (2023 est.)

other

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30% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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19.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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8.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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77,600 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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13.3% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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12.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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0 cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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30.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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none

conventional short form

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Saint Lucia

etymology

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believed to be named after Saint LUCY (Sainte ALOUSIE) of Syracuse by French sailors who were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December 1502, the saint's feast day

note

<strong>note:</strong> pronounced saynt-LOO-shuh

Government type

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parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Capital

name

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Castries

geographic coordinates

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14 00 N, 61 00 W

time difference

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UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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in 1785, the village of Carenage was renamed Castries, after Charles Eugene Gabriel de La Croix de CASTRIES, who was then the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies

Administrative divisions

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10 districts; Anse-la-Raye, Canaries, Castries, Choiseul, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Soufri&egrave;re, Vieux-Fort

Legal system

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English common law

Constitution

history

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previous 1958, 1960 (pre-independence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979

amendment process

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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

International law organization participation

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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yes

citizenship by descent only

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at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Lucia

dual citizenship recognized

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yes

residency requirement for naturalization

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8 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Acting Governor General Cyril Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021)

head of government

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Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021)

cabinet

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Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

election/appointment process

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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

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Houses of Parliament

legislative structure

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bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

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House of Assembly

number of seats

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18 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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plurality/majority

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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7/26/2021

parties elected and seats per party

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Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) (13); United Workers Party (UWP) (2); Independents (2)

percentage of women in chamber

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10.5%

expected date of next election

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December 2025

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

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Senate

number of seats

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11 (all appointed)

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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8/17/2021

percentage of women in chamber

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54.5%

expected date of next election

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December 2025

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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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 Justice

judge selection and term of office

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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 62

subordinate courts

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magistrate's court

Political parties

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Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP<br>United Workers Party or UWP

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Elizabeth DARIUS-CLARKE (since 7 June 2022)

chancery

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1629 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006

telephone

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[1] (202) 364-6792

FAX

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[1] (202) 364-6723

email address and website

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<br>embassydc@gosl.gov.lc<br><br>https://www.embassyofstlucia.org/

consulate(s) general

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Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

International organization participation

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ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

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22 February 1979 (from the UK)

National holiday

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Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Flag

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<strong>description:</strong> cerulean blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> blue stands for the sky and sea, gold for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black for the ethnic composition of the island; the triangles represent Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island

National symbol(s)

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twin pitons (volcanic peaks), Saint Lucia parrot

National color(s)

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cerulean blue, gold, black, white

National anthem(s)

title

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"God Save the King"

lyrics/music

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unknown

history

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in use since 1745

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

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1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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Pitons Management Area

Economy

Economic overview

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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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

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$4.359 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

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$4.196 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$4.105 billion (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

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3.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

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2.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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20.4% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

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$24,300 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

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$23,400 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$23,000 (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$2.549 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

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-0.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

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4.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

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6.4% (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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1.1% (2024 est.)

industry

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9.8% (2024 est.)

services

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75.9% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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66.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption

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11.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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16.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

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0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services

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62.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-56.9% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

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coconuts, bananas, tropical fruits, fruits, root vegetables, plantains, vegetables, cassava, chicken, milk (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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tourism; clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, lime processing, coconut processing

Industrial production growth rate

text

5.6% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

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102,400 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

11% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

11.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

text

16% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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29% (2024 est.)

male

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31.4% (2024 est.)

female

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26.3% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

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25% (2015 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

text

51.2 (2016 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

text

2.1% (2015 est.)

highest 10%

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34.1% (2015 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2024

text

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances 2023

text

2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$414.77 million (2017 est.)

expenditures

text

$351.956 million (2017 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

69.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

text

18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024

text

-$64.121 million (2024 est.)

Current account balance 2023

text

-$38.069 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

-$83.442 million (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2024

text

$1.6 billion (2024 est.)

Exports 2023

text

$1.419 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

text

$1.29 billion (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

text

Guyana 20%, Suriname 15%, USA 11%, Barbados 8%, Dominica 7% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

text

refined petroleum, gravel and crushed stone, beer, liquor, paper containers (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2024

text

$1.446 billion (2024 est.)

Imports 2023

text

$1.292 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$1.2 billion (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

text

USA 59%, Guyana 8%, Brazil 7%, China 5%, UK 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

text

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, poultry, plastic products (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

text

$406.064 million (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$424.324 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$389.083 million (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$901.317 million (2023 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

2.7 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

2.7 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

2.7 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

2.7 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

2.7 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

93,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

365.178 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

31.038 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

98% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

47.522 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

31,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

17 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

176,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

99 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

text

3 privately owned TV stations; 1 public TV station on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service available; mix of state-owned and privately owned radio broadcasters with about 25 stations, including repeater transmission stations (2019)

Internet country code

text

.lc

Internet users

percent of population

text

74% (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

24,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

14 (2022 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

J6

Airports

text

2 (2025)

Ports

total ports

text

3 (2024)

large

text

0

medium

text

0

small

text

2

very small

text

1

ports with oil terminals

text

2

key ports

text

Castries, Grand Cul de Sac Bay, Vieux Fort

Military and Security

Military and security forces

text

no regular military forces; Ministry of Home Affairs, Justice, and National Security: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) (2025)

Military - note

text

Saint Lucia has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

text

5 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

text

Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Saint Lucia was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/saint-lucia/