Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Code: VC | Region: Central America N Caribbean

Introduction

Background

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Resistance from native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. France and England disputed the island for most of the 18th century, but it was ceded to England in 1783. The British prized Saint Vincent because of its fertile soil, which allowed for thriving slave-run plantations of sugar, coffee, indigo, tobacco, cotton, and cocoa. In 1834, the British abolished slavery. Immigration of indentured servants eased the ensuing labor shortage, as did subsequent immigrant waves from Portugal and East India. Conditions remained harsh for both former slaves and immigrant agricultural workers, however, as depressed world sugar prices kept the economy stagnant until the early 1900s. The economy then went into a period of decline, with many landowners abandoning their estates and leaving the land to be cultivated by liberated slaves. 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. In 2021, the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in the north of Saint Vincent destroyed much of Saint Vincent’s most productive agricultural lands. Unlike most of its tourism-dependent neighbors, the Vincentian economy is primarily agricultural.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references

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Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total

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389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)

land

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389 sq km

water

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0 sq km

Area - comparative

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twice the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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84 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

Climate

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tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain

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volcanic, mountainous

Elevation

highest point

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La Soufriere 1,234 m

lowest point

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Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural resources

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hydropower, arable land

Land use

agricultural land

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17.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 5.1% (2023 est.)

forest

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73.2% (2023 est.)

other

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8.8% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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10 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown

Natural hazards

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hurricanes; La Soufrière volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat volcanism: La Soufrière (1,234 m) last erupted in 1979; the island of Saint Vincent 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 administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is composed of 32 islands and cays

People and Society

Population

total

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100,647 (2024 est.)

male

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51,249

female

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49,398

Nationality

noun

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Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)

adjective

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Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic groups

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African descent 71.2%, mixed 23%, Indigenous 3%, East Indian/Indian 1.1%, European 1.5%, other 0.2% (2012 est.)

Languages

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English, Vincentian Creole English, French patois

Religions

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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.)

Age structure

0-14 years

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18.8% (male 9,527/female 9,353)

15-64 years

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68.2% (male 35,401/female 33,288)

65 years and over

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13% (2024 est.) (male 6,321/female 6,757)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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46.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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27.5 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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19 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

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5.3 (2024 est.)

Median age

total

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38.1 years (2025 est.)

male

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37.7 years

female

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37.4 years

Population growth rate

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-0.15% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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-5.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown

Urbanization

urban population

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54.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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27,000 KINGSTOWN (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.94 male(s)/female

total population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate

total

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

male

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13.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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77.2 years (2024 est.)

male

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75.2 years

female

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79.3 years

Total fertility rate

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1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.85 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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5.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

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total: 90.2% of population

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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23.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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7.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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4.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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6.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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12.6% national budget (2024 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

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15 years (2015 est.)

male

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14 years (2015 est.)

female

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15 years (2015 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from boats; poor land-use planning; deforestation; watershed management; squatter settlement control

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, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Land use

agricultural land

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17.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 5.1% (2023 est.)

forest

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73.2% (2023 est.)

other

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8.8% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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54.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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268,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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19,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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249,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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9.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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31,600 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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8.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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2,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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0 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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100 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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none

conventional short form

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

etymology

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explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint VINCENT of Saragossa because 22 January 1498, the day of discovery, was the saint's feast day

Government type

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parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Capital

name

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Kingstown

geographic coordinates

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13 08 N, 61 13 W

time difference

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

Administrative divisions

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6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Legal system

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English common law

Constitution

history

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previous 1969, 1975; latest drafted 26 July 1979, effective 27 October 1979 (The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979)

amendment process

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proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections on fundamental rights and freedoms, citizen protections, various government functions and authorities, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum of at least two thirds of the votes cast, and assent of the governor general

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 Vincent and the Grenadines

dual citizenship recognized

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yes

residency requirement for naturalization

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7 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 Governor General Stanley JOHN (since 6 January 2026)

head of government

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Prime Minister Godwin FRIDAY (since 28 November 2025)

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 on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch

legislature name

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House of Assembly

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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22 (15 directly elected; 6 appointed)

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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11/27/2025

parties elected and seats per party

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United Labour Party (ULP) (9); New Democratic Party (NDP) (6)

percentage of women in chamber

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21.7%

expected date of next election

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November 2030

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; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a 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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magistrates' courts

Political parties

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New Democratic Party or NDP SVG Green Party or SVGP Unity Labor Party or ULP (formed in 1994 by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene GILCHRIST (since 18 January 2017)

chancery

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1627 K Street, NW, Suite 704, Washington, DC 20006

telephone

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[1] (202) 364-6730

FAX

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[1] (202) 364-6736

email address and website

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mail@embsvg.com http://wa.embassy.gov.vc/washington/

consulate(s) general

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New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

International organization participation

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

Independence

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27 October 1979 (from the UK)

National holiday

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Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Flag

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description: three vertical bands of blue (left side), gold (double-width), and green; the gold band has three green diamonds arranged in a "V" pattern that stands for "Vincent" meaning: the diamonds represent the islands as "the Gems of the Antilles" and are set slightly lowered in the gold band to reflect the country's position in the Antilles; blue stands for the tropical sky and sea, yellow for the sand, and green for vegetation

National symbol(s)

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Saint Vincent parrot

National color(s)

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blue, gold, green

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

Economy

Economic overview

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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)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

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$1.883 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

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$1.809 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$1.718 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

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4.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

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5.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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3.1% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$18,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

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$17,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$16,800 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$1.157 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

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3.6% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

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4.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

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5.7% (2022 est.)

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note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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3.5% (2024 est.)

industry

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15.4% (2024 est.)

services

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66.4% (2024 est.)

note

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

Agricultural products

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bananas, root vegetables, plantains, spices, coconuts, fruits, apples, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, sweet potatoes (2023)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Industrial production growth rate

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7.3% (2024 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

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52,100 (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

18.1% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

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18.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

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19.5% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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41.4% (2024 est.)

male

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41.4% (2024 est.)

female

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41.4% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Remittances

Remittances 2024

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8.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances 2023

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8.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

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9% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

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

Budget

revenues

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$226.404 million (2017 est.)

expenditures

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$208.744 million (2017 est.)

note

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

Public debt

Public debt 2016

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82.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

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23.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024

text

-$156.589 million (2024 est.)

Current account balance 2023

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-$180.43 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

-$199.727 million (2022 est.)

note

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

Exports

Exports 2024

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$425.182 million (2024 est.)

Exports 2023

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$345.098 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

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$278.292 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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Croatia 16%, Barbados 14%, USA 10%, St. Lucia 10%, St. Kitts & Nevis 8% (2023)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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ships, wheat flours, animal food, shellfish, construction vehicles (2023)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2024

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$641.179 million (2024 est.)

Imports 2023

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$588.865 million (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$540.833 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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USA 37%, Italy 7%, Trinidad & Tobago 7%, China 6%, UK 6% (2023)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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ships, refined petroleum, wheat, coal, poultry (2023)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

text

$316.824 million (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$280.564 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

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$320.193 million (2022 est.)

note

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

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$456.971 million (2023 est.)

note

note: 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

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55,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

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140.316 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

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10.868 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

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86.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

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1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

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12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

exports

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8 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

text

8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

37.253 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

10,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

10 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

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103,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

100 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately owned radio stations and repeater stations

Internet country code

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.vc

Internet users

percent of population

text

76% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

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31,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

30 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

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Airports

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5 (2025)

Merchant marine

total

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830 (2023)

by type

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bulk carrier 30, container ship 18, general cargo 137, oil tanker 16, other 629

Ports

total ports

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1 (2024)

large

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medium

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small

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very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Kingstown

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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no regular military forces; Ministry of National Security: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF) (2025)

Military - note

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the country 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 Nevis, and Saint Lucia) 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)