2020 Edition

Background

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. 

Area

land

389 sq km

total

389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Coastline

84 km

Elevation

highest point

La Soufriere 1,234 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

13 15 N, 61 12 W

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

17.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.1% (2023 est.)

forest

73.2% (2023 est.)

other

8.8% (2023 est.)

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes; La Soufrière volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat volcanism: La Soufrière (1,234 m) 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

Natural resources

hydropower, arable land

Population distribution

most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

19 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

5.3 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

46.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

27.5 (2024 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.6% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

African descent 71.2%, mixed 23%, Indigenous 3%, East Indian/Indian 1.1%, European 1.5%, other 0.2% (2012 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.85 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

13.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

English, Vincentian Creole English, French patois

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.3 years

male

75.2 years

total population

77.2 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

27,000 KINGSTOWN (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

56 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

37.4 years

male

37.7 years

total

38.1 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

noun

Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)

Net migration rate

-5.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.7% (2016)

Physician density

0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

female

49,398

male

51,249

total

100,647 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.15% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 90.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2015 est.)

male

14 years (2015 est.)

total

15 years (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

54.3% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 08 N, 61 13 W

name

Kingstown

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Constitution

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

history

previous 1969, 1975; latest drafted 26 July 1979, effective 27 October 1979 (The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979)

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1627 K Street, NW, Suite 704, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene GILCHRIST (since 18 January 2017)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

mail@embsvg.com http://wa.embassy.gov.vc/washington/

FAX

[1] (202) 364-6736

telephone

[1] (202) 364-6730

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Stanley JOHN (since 6 January 2026)

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general on the advice of the prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Godwin FRIDAY (since 28 November 2025)

Flag

description: three vertical bands of blue (left side), gold (double-width), and green; the gold band has three green diamonds arranged in a "V" pattern that stands for "Vincent" meaning: the diamonds represent the islands as "the Gems of the Antilles" and are set slightly lowered in the gold band to reflect the country's position in the Antilles; blue stands for the tropical sky and sea, yellow for the sand, and green for vegetation

Government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence

27 October 1979 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

November 2030

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

House of Assembly

most recent election date

11/27/2025

number of seats

22 (15 directly elected; 6 appointed)

parties elected and seats per party

United Labour Party (ULP) (9); New Democratic Party (NDP) (6)

percentage of women in chamber

21.7%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

in use since 1745

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National color(s)

blue, gold, green

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

National symbol(s)

Saint Vincent parrot

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

bananas, root vegetables, plantains, spices, coconuts, fruits, apples, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, sweet potatoes (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$208.744 million (2017 est.)

revenues

$226.404 million (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$199.727 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$180.43 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$156.589 million (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$456.971 million (2023 est.)

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

Exchange rates

Currency

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

2.7 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2.7 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

2.7 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

2.7 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

2.7 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$278.292 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$345.098 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$425.182 million (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

ships, wheat flours, animal food, shellfish, construction vehicles (2023)

Exports - partners

Croatia 16%, Barbados 14%, USA 10%, St. Lucia 10%, St. Kitts & Nevis 8% (2023)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.5% (2024 est.)

industry

15.4% (2024 est.)

services

66.4% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.157 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$540.833 million (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$588.865 million (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$641.179 million (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, wheat, coal, poultry (2023)

Imports - partners

USA 37%, Italy 7%, Trinidad & Tobago 7%, China 6%, UK 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

7.3% (2024 est.)

Industries

tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Labor force

52,100 (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

82.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.718 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.809 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.883 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$16,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$17,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$18,700 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

8.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

8.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$320.193 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$280.564 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$316.824 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

19.5% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

18.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

18.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

41.4% (2024 est.)

male

41.4% (2024 est.)

total

41.4% (2024 est.)

Coal

exports

8 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

140.316 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

55,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10.868 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

86.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

37.253 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

30 (2023 est.)

total

31,000 (2023 est.)

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.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

10,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

103,000 (2023 est.)

Airports

5 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

J8

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 30, container ship 18, general cargo 137, oil tanker 16, other 629

total

830 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Kingstown

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

1

small

1

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

0

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)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Ministry of National Security: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF) (2025)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

total emissions

268,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from boats; poor land-use planning; deforestation; watershed management; squatter settlement control

International environmental 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

Particulate matter emissions

9.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

100 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

0 cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

2,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

8.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

31,600 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13.3% (2022 est.)