Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Introduction

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. 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.

Geography

Area
total : 389 sq km
land: 389 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Natural resources
hydropower, arable land

People and Society

Population
total: 100,647 (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.)

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.)

Population growth rate
-0.15% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Capital
name: Kingstown

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene GILCHRIST (since 18 January 2017)

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)
$1.883 billion (2024 est.)
$1.809 billion (2023 est.)
$1.718 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$18,700 (2024 est.)
$17,900 (2023 est.)
$16,800 (2022 est.)

Exports
$425.182 million (2024 est.)
$345.098 million (2023 est.)
$278.292 million (2022 est.)

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

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

Imports
$641.179 million (2024 est.)
$588.865 million (2023 est.)
$540.833 million (2022 est.)

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

Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, wheat, coal, poultry (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.798, ranking it 76th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)