Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
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total: 616 sq km
country comparison to the world: 193
land: 606 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
three and a half times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
158 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Terrain:
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volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 4.84%
permanent crops: 11.29%
other: 83.87% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30 sq km (2007)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.02 cu km/yr (NA)
per capita: 98.22 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
hurricanes; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean
People and Society:
Nationality:
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noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English (official), French patois
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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% (2001 census)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
162,781 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 21.6% (male 18,101/female 17,098)
15-24 years: 16.9% (male 13,872/female 13,602)
25-54 years: 42.9% (male 33,528/female 36,230)
55-64 years: 8.4% (male 6,371/female 7,372)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 7,510/female 9,097) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 48.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 35.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 13 %
potential support ratio: 7.7 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 32.2 years
male: 31.1 years
female: 33.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.36% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.19 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.21 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 28% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
CASTRIES (capital) 15,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
35 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 118
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 130
male: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 77.22 years
country comparison to the world: 69
male: 74.52 years
female: 80.08 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.78 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 81
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2002)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 96
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 40.8%
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 37.1%
female: 45.5% (2004)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22 February 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
previous 1958, 1960 (preindependence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979; note - a constitutional reform report was submitted to the St. Lucian Parliament in April 2013 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English common law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Kenny Davis ANTHONY (since 30 November 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 49.68%, UWP 45.83%; seats by party - SLP 11, UWP 6
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states; 3 High Court judges reside on Saint Lucia
judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; 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: magistrate's court
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Lucian People's Movement or LPM [Therold PRUDENT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY (since 12 September 2012)
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Coral Gables (FL), New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border; the blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
twin pitons (volcanic peaks); Saint Lucia parrot
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia"
lyrics/music: Charles JESSE/Leton Felix THOMAS
note: adopted 1967
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Tourism is Saint Lucia's main source of jobs and income - accounting for 65% of GDP - and the island's main source of foreign exchange earnings. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area. Crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, but St. Lucia''s once solid banana industry has been devastated by strong competition and by Hurricane Tomas in 2010. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks, including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, high public debt - 77% of GDP in 2012 - and high debt servicing obligations constrain the ANTHONY administration''s ability to respond to adverse external shocks. St. Lucia has experienced anemic growth since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, largely because of a slowdown in tourism. As airlines cut back on their routes to St. Lucia in 2012, tourism growth slowed. Also, St. Lucia introduced a value added tax in 2012 of 15%, becoming the last country in the Eastern Caribbean to do so.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.181 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.3 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$13,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 69.1%
government consumption: 17.7%
investment in fixed capital: 29.1%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 49.6%
imports of goods and services: -65.5%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 17.2%
services: 79.6% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tourism; clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1%
country comparison to the world: 119
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
79,700 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 184
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $185.2 million
expenditures: $222.2 million (2011 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
77% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$259.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.149 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.598 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-184.4 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$190.1 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, avacados, mangoes, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 13.9%, UK 10.3%, Peru 9.7%, Antigua and Barbuda 9.3%, Dominica 9.1%, France 9%, Barbados 8.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.6%, Grenada 6.2% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$579.3 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Brazil 57.4%, US 19%, Trinidad and Tobago 9% (2012)
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$438.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
362 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
332.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
76,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 187
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,922 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,914 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 193
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
424,900 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
36,800 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 172
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
227,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 179
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: an adequate system that is automatically switched
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 25 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 130 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados (2010)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3 privately owned TV stations; 1 public TV station operating on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service available; a mix of state-owned and privately owned broadcasters operate nearly 25 radio stations including repeater transmission stations (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.lc
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 209
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
142,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 149
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 205
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,210 km
country comparison to the world: 181
paved: 847 km
unpaved: 363 km (2011)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Marine Unit) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for voluntary security service; no national army (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 41,414 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 32,688
females age 16-49: 36,289 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 1,574
female: 1,502 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Trafficking in persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
current situation: St. Lucia is a destination country for persons subjected to forced prostitution and forced labor; legal and illegal immigrants from Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and South Asia, especially those working in domestic service, are vulnerable to human trafficking; some children under 18 are coerced to work in St. Lucia's commercial sex industry
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - St. Lucia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of trafficking offenders or public officials complicit in human trafficking in 2012 or 2011, although a counter-trafficking act was passed in 2010; the government helps protect trafficking victims by funding an NGO and running a system of informal shelters but lacks formal procedures for identifying victims and referring them to available protection and assistance services; St. Lucia is not a party to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2013)