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.Â
Geography
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, 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 km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 204
Area – comparative
twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 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 (May to November)
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation
highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
hydropower, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 17.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 5.1% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 7.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 73.2% (2022 est.)
other: 8.9% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown
Natural hazards
hurricanes; La Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
volcanism: La Soufriere (1,234 m) on the island of Saint Vincent 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
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: 100,647 (2024 est.)
male: 51,249
female: 49,398
comparison rankings: total 195; female 196; male 192
Nationality
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups
African descent 71.2%, mixed 23%, Indigenous 3%, East Indian/Indian 1.1%, European 1.5%, other 0.2% (2012 est.)
Languages
English, Vincentian Creole English, French patois
Religions
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: 18.8% (male 9,527/female 9,353)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 35,401/female 33,288)
65 years and over: 13% (2024 est.) (male 6,321/female 6,757)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 46.5 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 19 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.3 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 37.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 37.7 years
female: 37.4 years
comparison ranking: total 82
Population growth rate
-0.15% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 208
Birth rate
11.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 150
Death rate
7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 96
Net migration rate
-5.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 208
Population distribution
most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown
Urbanization
urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
27,000 KINGSTOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
62 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 91
Infant mortality rate
total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 108
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.2 years
female: 79.3 years
comparison ranking: total population 96
Total fertility rate
1.74 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 152
Gross reproduction rate
0.85 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
total: 95.1% of population
unimproved:
total: 4.9% of population (2017 est.)
Health expenditure
5.4% of GDP (2021)
8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
Hospital bed density
4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 90.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 9.8% of population (2017 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
23.7% (2016)
comparison ranking: 64
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 7.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 52
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.3% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
6.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
12.6% national budget (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 24
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2015)
Environment
Environment – current issues
pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from boats; poor land-use planning; deforestation; watershed management; squatter settlement control
Environment – international agreements
party to: 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: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Land use
agricultural land: 17.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 5.1% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 7.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 73.2% (2022 est.)
other: 8.9% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 9.41 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.09 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 31,561 tons (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 2,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
etymology: 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
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital
name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates: 13 08 N, 61 13 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Legal system
English common law
Constitution
history: previous 1969, 1975; latest drafted 26 July 1979, effective 27 October 1979 (The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979)
amendment process: 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
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Susan DOUGAN (since 1 August 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph Everard GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch
legislature name: House of Assembly
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 22 (15 directly elected; 6 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/5/2020
parties elected and seats per party: United Labour Party (ULP) (9); New Democratic Party (NDP) (6)
percentage of women in chamber: 21.7%
expected date of next election: November 2025
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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: 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: magistrates’ courts
Political parties
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: Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene GILCHRIST (since 18 January 2017)
chancery: 1627 K Street, NW, Suite 704, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
email address and website:
[email protected]
http://wa.embassy.gov.vc/washington/
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: 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
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
27 October 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Flag description
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double-width), and green; the gold band has three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern that stands for “Vincent;” the diamonds represent the islands as “the Gems of the Antilles” and are set slightly lowered in the gold band to reflect the nation’s position in the Antilles; blue stands for the tropical sky and sea, yellow for the sand, and green for vegetation
National symbol(s)
Saint Vincent parrot
National colors
blue, gold, green
National anthem
name: “St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!”
lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL
note: adopted 1967
Economy
Economic overview
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)
$1.858 billion (2023 est.)
$1.752 billion (2022 est.)
$1.635 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 203
Real GDP growth rate
6.02% (2023 est.)
7.16% (2022 est.)
0.75% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 31
Real GDP per capita
$18,300 (2023 est.)
$17,200 (2022 est.)
$15,900 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 109
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.066 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.6% (2024 est.)
4.6% (2023 est.)
5.7% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 116
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
industry: 14.2% (2023 est.)
services: 64.2% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 64; industry 172; agriculture 122
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 87.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 10.8% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 37.1% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -51.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
bananas, root vegetables, plantains, spices, coconuts, fruits, apples, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, sweet potatoes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate
3.91% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 82
Labor force
52,100 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 189
Unemployment rate
18.1% (2024 est.)
18.6% (2023 est.)
19.4% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 189
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 41.4% (2024 est.)
male: 41.4% (2024 est.)
female: 41.4% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 9
Remittances
8.61% of GDP (2023 est.)
9.17% of GDP (2022 est.)
8.03% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $226.404 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: $208.744 million (2017 est.)
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
73.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 48
Taxes and other revenues
23.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 54
Current account balance
-$180.43 million (2023 est.)
-$199.727 million (2022 est.)
-$206.272 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 107
Exports
$345.098 million (2023 est.)
$278.292 million (2022 est.)
$140.607 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 199
Exports – partners
Croatia 16%, Barbados 14%, USA 10%, St. Lucia 10%, St. Kitts & Nevis 8% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
ships, wheat flours, animal food, shellfish, construction vehicles (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$588.865 million (2023 est.)
$540.833 million (2022 est.)
$430.268 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 200
Imports – partners
USA 37%, Italy 7%, Trinidad & Tobago 7%, China 6%, UK 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
ships, refined petroleum, wheat, coal, poultry (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$316.824 million (2024 est.)
$280.564 million (2023 est.)
$320.193 million (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 180
Debt – external
$456.971 million (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 114
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
2.7 (2024 est.)
2.7 (2023 est.)
2.7 (2022 est.)
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 55,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 140.316 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 10.868 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 19; consumption 195; installed generating capacity 193
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 86.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
exports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
268,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 19,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 249,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 202
Energy consumption per capita
37.253 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 105
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 10,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 186
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 103,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 193
Broadcast media
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
.vc
Internet users
percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 31,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 160
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
J8
Airports
5 (2025)
comparison ranking: 176
Merchant marine
total: 830 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 30, container ship 18, general cargo 137, oil tanker 16, other 629
comparison ranking: total 30
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Kingstown
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Ministry of National Security: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF) (2025)
Military – note
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)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs
