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St. Lucia
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Sovereign:
Queen Elizabeth II (1952) Area: 238 sq mi (616 sq km) Population (2004 est.): 164,213 (growth rate: 1.3%); birth rate: 20.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 14.0/1000; life expectancy: 73.3; density per sq mi: 690 Capital: Castries Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar Languages: English (official), French patois Ethnicity/race: black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 3%, other Protestant 7% Literacy rate: 67% (1980 est.) Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential. Exports: $66 million (2002 est.): bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil. Imports: $267 million (2002 est.): food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels. Major trading partners: UK, U.S., Barbados, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago. Member of Commonwealth of Nations International disputes: protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea. |
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Symbolism of FlagThe black and white reflect the black and white communities and the harmony between them. Yellow represents the golden beaches and blue stands for the sea. GeographyOne of the Windward Islands of the eastern Caribbean, St. Lucia lies just south of Martinique. It is of volcanic origin. A chain of wooded mountains runs from north to south, and from them flow many streams into fertile valleys. GovernmentParliamentary democracy. A governor-general represents the sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. National Anthem
Sons and daughters
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