Saint Lucia

Wealth and National Well-Being

Country Comparisons: chart

World Factbook: "The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Although crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, tourism provides Saint Lucia's main source of income and the industry is the island's biggest employer."

Economic growth rate
2011: 2%
2010: 4.4%
2009: minus 1.3%

Labor force in agriculture
2002: 21.7%

Unemployment rate
2003: 20%

Public debt
2010: 77%

Health expenditures
2009: 8.1% of GDP

People

Living in an urban area
2010: 28%

Net migration rate
2012: A net loss of 3.54 persons per 1,000 population.

Ethnic groups
2001 census: black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1%.

Religions
2001 census: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Protestant 18.2% (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%

Geography

Volcanic Island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago. Good natural harbor. Tropical, with forests and sandy beaches. About 12 miles wide and 27 miles long (20 x 43 km).

Government

Chief of state: Elizabeth II (queen, House of Windsor) since 6 February, 1952. Head of government: Kenneth Anthony (prime minister) since 30 November 2011, Labour Party.

Parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm, represented by a governor general.

Capital: Castries.

Recent History

In the 1600s and 1700s the island changed from English to French control 14 times. Britain held exclusive control after 1814 and granted the island self-government in 1967. Independence came in 1979.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/