Climate:tropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonaltemperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 80.55% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the twovolcanic islands are separated by a three-km-wide channel called TheNarrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped SaintKitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of itsalmost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements thatof its sister island
People Saint Kitts and Nevis
Population:38,763 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 5,754; female 5,499)15-64 years: 62.4% (male 12,098; female 12,105)65 years and over: 8.5% (male 1,365; female 1,942) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 27.1 yearsmale: 26.3 yearsfemale: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:18.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.57 yearsmale: 68.76 yearsfemale: 74.56 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups:predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
Religions:Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 97%male: 97%female: 98% (1980 est.)
Government Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name:conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevisconventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevisformer: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Government type:constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament
Capital:Basseterre
Administrative divisions:14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point,Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint JamesWindward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint MaryCayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint PeterBasseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island,Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence:19 September 1983 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution:19 September 1983
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN(since 1 January 1996)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general isappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition isusually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor generalcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultationwith the prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members servefive-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -SKNLP 8, CCM 2, NRP 1elections: last held 6 March 2000 (next to be held by July 2005)
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge ofthe Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Political parties and leaders:Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis ReformationParty or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM[Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.Denzil DOUGLAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS,OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the USAmbassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag description:divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black bandbearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged inyellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
Economy Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy - overview:Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy untilthe 1970s. Although the crop still dominates the agriculturalsector, activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing,and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy. Astourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreignexchange, a decline in stopover tourist arrivals following theSeptember 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has eroded government finances.The opening of a 1,000+ bed Marriott hotel in February 2003 isexpected to bring in much-needed revenue.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3.5%industry: 25.8%services: 70.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.7% (2001 est.)
Labor force:18,172 (June 1995)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:4.5% (1997)
Budget:revenues: $89.7 millionexpenditures: $128.2 million, including capital expenditures of$19.5 million (2003 est.)
Industries:sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,beverages
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:100.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:93.26 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:710 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Exports:$47 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:US 66.5%, UK 7.6%, Canada 6.8%, Portugal 6% (2002)
Imports:$152 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:US 41.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 16.2%, Canada 9.8%, UK 6.9%, Japan 4%(2002)
Debt - external:$171 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$8 million (2001)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:17,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:205 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: good interisland and international connectionsdomestic: inter island links to Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin(Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) are handled by VHF/UHF/SHFradiotelephoneinternational: international calls are carried by radiotelephone toAntigua and Barbuda and switched there to submarine cable or toIntelsat; or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and NetherlandsAntilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:28,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation Saint Kitts and Nevis
Railways:total: 50 kmnarrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcaneplantations during harvest season (2002)
Highways:total: 320 kmpaved: 136 kmunpaved: 184 km (1999 est)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (including Coast Guard), RoyalSaint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (including Special Service Unit)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Saint Kitts and Nevis
Disputes - international:protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over alarge portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; some money-laundering activity
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Saint Lucia
Introduction Saint Lucia
Background:The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contestedbetween England and France throughout the 17th and early 18thcenturies (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded tothe UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independencein 1979.
Geography Saint Lucia
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North AtlanticOcean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 53 N, 60 68 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 616 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmland: 606 sq km
Area - comparative:3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:158 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season fromJanuary to April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain:volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs,geothermal potential
Land use: arable land: 4.92% permanent crops: 22.95% other: 72.13% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shapedpeaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlightsof the Caribbean
People Saint Lucia
Population:162,157 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31.1% (male 25,883; female 24,569)15-64 years: 63.7% (male 50,711; female 52,508)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,147; female 5,339) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 24.1 yearsmale: 23.3 yearsfemale: 24.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.25% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:20.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 15.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.08 yearsmale: 69.52 yearsfemale: 76.9 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.29 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 3%, other Protestant 7%
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 67%male: 65%female: 69% (1980 est.)
Government Saint Lucia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:Westminster-style parliamentary democracy
Capital:Castries
Administrative divisions:11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery,Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:22 February 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:22 February 1979
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September1997)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general isappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor generalcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six membersappointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the adviceof the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation withreligious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly(17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-memberconstituencies to serve five-year terms)election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to beheld NA December 2006)
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla,Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada,Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincentand the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Partyor SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [KennethANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE];United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassadorin Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; theupper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy Saint Lucia
Economy - overview:The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and theincreased competition from Latin American bananas have made economicdiversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The islandnation has been able to attract foreign business and investment,especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Themanufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbeanarea, and the government is trying to revitalize the bananaindustry. Economic fundamentals remain solid.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $866 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 7%industry: 20%services: 73% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2001 est.)
Labor force:43,800
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 21.7%, services 53.6%, industry, commerce, and manufacturing 24.7% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:16.5% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $141.2 millionexpenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of$25.1 million (2000 est.)
Industries:clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugatedcardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:-8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:120.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:111.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Exports:$68.3 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:UK 48.6%, US 27.8%, Barbados 7.6% (2002)
Imports:$319.4 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportationequipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:Brazil 41.7%, US 21.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.9% (2002)
Debt - external:$214 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$51.8 million (1995)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use:37,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,600 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate systemdomestic: system is automatically switchedinternational: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique andSaint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados;international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsatfrom Martinique
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:111,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)
Televisions:32,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.lc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):15 (2000)
Internet users:3,000 (2000)
Transportation Saint Lucia
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,210 km paved: 63 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Lucia
Military branches:Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit andCoast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:$NA
Transnational Issues Saint Lucia
Disputes - international:protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over alarge portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transit point for South American drugs destined for the US andEurope
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Introduction Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Background:First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islandsrepresent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast NorthAmerican possessions.
Geography Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Location:Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southof Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates:46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references:North America
Area:total: 242 sq kmnote: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and theMiquelon groupswater: 0 sq kmland: 242 sq km
Area - comparative:1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:120 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Terrain:mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: arable land: 13.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 86.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Geography - note: vegetation scanty
People Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Population:6,976 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25% (male 891; female 851)15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,306; female 2,210)65 years and over: 10.3% (male 310; female 408) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 32.9 yearsmale: 32.7 yearsfemale: 33.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:14.62 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.11 yearsmale: 75.82 yearsfemale: 80.51 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)adjective: French
Ethnic groups:Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions:Roman Catholic 99%
Languages:French (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (1982 est.)
Government Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Country name:conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierreand Miquelonconventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelonlocal short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelonlocal long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Dependency status:self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions:none (territorial collectivity of France); note - there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon atthe second order
Independence:none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under Frenchcontrol since 1763)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such ashousing and taxation
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Claude VALLEIX (since 9 October 2002)elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; election last held, first round - 21 April 2002, second round- 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prefect appointed by theFrench president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior;president of the General Council is elected by the members of thecouncilhead of government: President of the General Council MarcPLANTAGENEST (since NA)cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 fromSaint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popularvote to serve six-year terms)elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be heldNA April 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the FrenchNational Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002,second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 1
Judicial branch:Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP)[leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour laDemocratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description:a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark bluebackground with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side,a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (calledikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to thecorners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into foursections; the middle part has a white background with an erminepattern; the third part has a red background with two stylizedyellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these threeheraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the BasqueCountry (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is usedfor official occasions
Economy Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Economy - overview:The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood byfishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast ofNewfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because ofdisputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in thenumber of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitrationpanel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq kmto settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, althoughit represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands areheavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of livingstandards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boosteconomic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the wayfor development of the energy sector.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $74 million - supplemented by annualpayments from France of about $60 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%industry: NA%services: NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (1991-96 average)
Labor force:3,261 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.8% (1997)
Budget:revenues: $70 millionexpenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24million (1996 est.)
Industries:fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:42.03 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:39.08 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports:$12 million f.o.b. (1999)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks andcrustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Exports - partners:US 33.3%, Zambia 30.3%, Ecuador 16.2%, France 5.1%, Canada 4%,Spain 4% (2002)
Imports:$55 million f.o.b. (1999)
Imports - commodities:meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, buildingmaterials
Imports - partners:Zambia 61.5%, France 21.8%, Canada 13% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:approximately $60 million in annual grants from France
Currency:euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863(1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Telephones - main lines in use:4,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (1994)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequatedomestic: NAinternational: radiotelephone communication with most countries inthe world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.pm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Saint Pierre
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Introduction Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Background:Disputed between France and the United Kingdom in the 18th century,Saint Vincent was ceded to the latter in 1783. Autonomy was grantedin 1969 and independence in 1979.
Geography Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North AtlanticOcean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)water: 0 sq kmland: 389 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:84 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (Mayto November)
Terrain:volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:hydropower, cropland
Land use:arable land: 10.26%permanent crops: 17.95%other: 71.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is aconstant threat
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group isdivided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; SaintVincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
People Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population:116,812 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.2% (male 16,755; female 16,163)15-64 years: 65.5% (male 39,308; female 37,149)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,215; female 4,222) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 25.3 yearsmale: 25.1 yearsfemale: 25.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:17.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-7.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.08 yearsmale: 71.3 yearsfemale: 74.92 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.95 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 7%
Religions:Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, Hindu Seventh-DayAdventist, other Protestant
Languages:English, French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 96%male: 96%female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within theCommonwealth
Capital:Kingstown
Administrative divisions:6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, SaintGeorge, Saint Patrick
Independence:27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:27 October 1979
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE(since 2 September 2002)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general isappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister bythe governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by thegovernor general on the advice of the prime ministercabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29March 2001)
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representativesand 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popularvote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -ULP 12, NDP 3elections: last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge ofthe Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:National Reform Party or NRP [Joel MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party orNDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [KenBOYEA]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [leader NA]; United People'sMovement or UPM [Adrian SAUNDERS]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [RalphGONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party orSVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ellsworth I. A. JOHN chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and theGrenadines; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to SaintVincent and the Grenadines
Flag description:three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), andgreen; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a Vpattern
Economy Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Economy - overview:Bananas and other agricultural products remain the staple of thislower-middle income country's economy. Although tourism and otherservices have been growing moderately in recent years, thegovernment has been ineffective at introducing new industries.Unemployment remains high, and economic growth hinges upon seasonalvariations in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Tropical stormswiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002, andtourism in the Eastern Caribbean has suffered low arrivals following11 September 2001. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore bankingsector, but its restrictive secrecy laws have come underinternational review. As of June 2001, it remained on the FinancialAction Task Force's list of noncooperative jurisdictions. SaintVincent is also the largest producer of marijuana in the EasternCaribbean and is increasingly being used as a transshipment pointfor illegal narcotics from South America.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 10%industry: 26%services: 64% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:22% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $94.6 millionexpenditures: $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate:-0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:92.48 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.3% hydro: 30.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:86 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports: $53.7 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports - partners:France 25.2%, Greece 19.1%, Spain 16.4%, UK 9.5%, US 7.1% (2002)
Imports:$185.6 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers,minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:France 32.7%, US 11.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.4%, Singapore 10.1%,Spain 7.9%, Greece 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$167.2 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$47.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (1998)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:20,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate systemdomestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHFradiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of theGrenadinesinternational: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent toBarbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:77,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.vc