Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Saint Helena
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Saint Helena
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Saint Kitts and Nevis
Introduction Saint Kitts and Nevis
Background:First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became anassociated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island ofAnguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts andNevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on areferendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirdsmajority needed. Nevis is once more trying to separate from theSaint Kitts.
Geography Saint Kitts and Nevis
Location:Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the wayfrom Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)land: 261 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:135 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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: 19.44% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 77.78% (2001)
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:38,958 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 5,586/female 5,330)15-64 years: 63.7% (male 12,424/female 12,403)65 years and over: 8.3% (male 1,328/female 1,887) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.6 yearsmale: 26.78 yearsfemale: 28.38 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.38% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.49 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.15 yearsmale: 69.31 yearsfemale: 75.16 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.33 children born/woman (2005 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)head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultationwith the prime ministerelections: 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 general
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members servefive-year terms)elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1
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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OAS, OECS,OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
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 to 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.Tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreignexchange. The opening of a 470-room resort in February 2003 wasexpected 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)
Labor force:18,170 (June 1995)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:4.5% (1997)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.7% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $89.7 millionexpenditures: $128.2 million, including capital expenditures of$19.5 million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Industries:sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,beverages
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:105.8 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:98.44 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:710 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$70 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:US 57.5%, Canada 9%, Portugal 8.3%, UK 6.7% (2004)
Imports:$195 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:Ukraine 44.7%, US 22.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.8%, UK 6.2% (2004)
Debt - external:$171 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$8 million (2001)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7(2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:23,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: good interisland and international connectionsdomestic: inter-island links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Opticcable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched inNovember 2004international: country code - 1-869; international calls are carriedby submarine cable or Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:28,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (2004)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kn
Internet hosts:51 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
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 (2003)
Highways:total: 320 kmpaved: 136 kmunpaved: 184 km (1999 est)
Ports and harbors:Basseterre, Charlestown
Airports:2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), RoyalSaint Kitts and Nevis Police Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Saint Kitts and Nevis
Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that AvesIsland sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, whichpermits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a largeportion 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 20 October, 2005
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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 kmland: 606 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:158 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 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: 6.56% permanent crops: 22.95% other: 70.49% (2001)
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, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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:166,312 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.3% (male 25,937/female 24,391)15-64 years: 64.6% (male 52,813/female 54,544)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,172/female 5,455) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 24.81 yearsmale: 24.03 yearsfemale: 25.66 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.28% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:20.05 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.53 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 14.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.61 yearsmale: 70.05 yearsfemale: 77.42 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.21 children born/woman (2005 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 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%,Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, Rastafarian 2.1%,other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 90.1%male: 89.5%female: 90.6% (2001 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 Dame Pearlette LOUISY (sinceSeptember 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: 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 general
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)elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to beheld in December 2006)election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3
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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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 Ambassadorto 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:Changes in the EU import preference regime and the increasedcompetition 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, even thoughunemployment needs to be cut.
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.)
Labor force: 43,800 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 21.7%, industry, commerce, and manufacturing 24.7%, services 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $141.2 millionexpenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of$25.1 million (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Industries:clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugatedcardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:-8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:270.3 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:251.3 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$66 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:UK 41.4%, US 16.5%, Brazil 11.6%, Barbados 5.8%, Antigua andBarbuda 4.6%, Dominica 4.5% (2004)
Imports:$267 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportationequipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:US 27.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 20.4%, UK 8%, Venezuela 7.6%, Finland7% (2004)
Debt - external:$214 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$51.8 million (1995)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7(2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use:51,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:14,300 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate systemdomestic: system is automatically switchedinternational: country code - 1-758; direct microwave radio relaylink with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond thesecountries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:111,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (of which one is a commercial broadcast station and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (2004)
Televisions:32,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.lc
Internet hosts:41 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):15 (2000)
Internet users:13,000 (2002)
Transportation Saint Lucia
Highways: total: 1,210 km paved: 63 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Airports:2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Saint Lucia
Military branches:Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit,Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Saint Lucia
Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that AvesIsland sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, whichpermits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a largeportion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transit point for South American drugs destined for the US andEurope
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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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 kmland: 242 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and theMiquelon groups
Area - comparative:1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:120 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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% (2001)
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:7,012 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (male 861/female 825)15-64 years: 65.3% (male 2,330/female 2,251)65 years and over: 10.6% (male 335/female 410) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 33.7 yearsmale: 33.39 yearsfemale: 33.96 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.21% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:13.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.46 yearsmale: 76.13 yearsfemale: 80.9 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.03 children born/woman (2005 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 long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelonlocal short form: 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:4 October 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 Albert DUPUY (since 10 January 2005)head of government: President of the General Council MarcPLANTAGENEST (since NA)cabinet: NAelections: 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 thecouncil
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:Left Radical Party or PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour laRepublique or RPR (now UMP) [leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS[leader NA]; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:UPU, 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 yellow wavy lines 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):$48.3 million - supplemented by annual payments from France ofabout $60 million (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
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)
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)
Budget:revenues: $70 millionexpenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24million (1996 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries:fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:43.08 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:40.06 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$10 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks andcrustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Exports - partners:Belgium 41.3%, US 19.9%, Spain 14.9%, France 10%, Germany 4.1%(2004)
Imports:$106 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, buildingmaterials
Imports - partners:France 37.6%, Canada 25.3%, Ireland 25.2%, Italy 5.1% (2004)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:approximately $60 million in annual grants from France
Currency (code):euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Telephones - main lines in use:4,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (1994)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequatedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication withmost countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domesticsatellite 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
Highways: total: 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km
Ports and harbors:Saint-Pierre
Airports:2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
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 20 October, 2005
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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)land: 389 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:84 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 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: 17.95%permanent crops: 17.95%other: 64.1% (2001)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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:117,534 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.1% (male 16,208/female 15,621)15-64 years: 66.5% (male 40,287/female 37,883)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,280/female 4,255) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 26.36 yearsmale: 26.21 yearsfemale: 26.53 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.27% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:16.34 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-7.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 16.09 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.62 yearsmale: 71.78 yearsfemale: 75.51 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.85 children born/woman (2005 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)head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29March 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: 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 minister
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)elections: last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by July 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -ULP 12, NDP 3
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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OAS,OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WTO
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 to 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:Economic growth in this lower-middle-income country hinges uponseasonal variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors.Tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994,1995, and 2002, and tourism in the Eastern Caribbean has sufferedlow arrivals following 11 September 2001. Saint Vincent is home to asmall offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt internationalregulatory standards. Saint Vincent is also a large producer ofmarijuana and is being used as a transshipment point for illegalnarcotics from South America.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$342 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 26% services: 64% (2001 est.)
Labor force:67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.4% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $94.6 millionexpenditures: $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices, small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, fish
Industries:food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate:-0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:91.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.3% hydro: 30.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:84.82 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$38 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennisracquets
Exports - partners:UK 33.5%, Barbados 13.1%, Saint Lucia 11.5%, Trinidad and Tobago9.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.3%, US 5.3%, Grenada 5.3%, Dominica 4.1%(2004)
Imports:$174 million (2002 est.)