Yearbook 2002
Saint Lucia. Integration between the countries of the Eastern Caribbean deepened during the year. According to Countryaah website, national day of Saint Lucia is every February 22. Saint Lucia, together with the other member states of the eastern Caribbean cooperative organization OECS, decided that a joint economic union should be formed at the turn of the year 2002/2003. Then free movement of goods and services between these countries would begin to prevail. Free movement of labor was to be introduced in 2007.
With the Union, the countries hoped to be able to strengthen their positions in the international export market. Banana exports were by far the largest source of income for the country.
Country data
Area: 616 km2 (world ranking: 179)
Residents: 179,000
Population density: 291 per km2 (as of 2017, world ranking: 178)
Capital: Castries
Official languages: English
Gross domestic product: US $ 1.7 billion; Real growth: 2.7%
Gross national product (GNP, per resident and year): 8780 US$
Currency: 1 Eastern Caribbean. Dollar (EC $) = 100 cents
Embassy
Weidebornweg 21, 61348 Bad Homburg vdH
Phone 06172 302324,
Fax 06172 305314
Government
Head of State: Elizabeth II, Head of Government: Allen Chastanet, Exterior: Sarah Flood-Beaubrun
National holiday: 22.2.
Administrative structure
11 districts
State and form of government
Constitution of 1979
Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Parliament: House of Assembly with 18 members (17 elected, 1 ex officio), election every 5 years; Senate (Senate) with 11 appointed members.
Suffrage from 18 years of age.
Population of: Lucians, last census 2010: 166,526 residents.
96% of African and European-African, 3% of Indian, 1% of European descent
Cities (with population): (as of 2010) Castries 22,111 Pop.; Z (2001) Bexon 7119, Babonneau 5138, Ciceron 3577, Dennery 3051, Vieux Fort 2827
Religions: 61% Catholics, 10% Adventists, 9% Pentecostals, 2% Evangelicals, 2% Baptists and others; 6% without religion (as of 2006)
Languages: English; Patois (French Creole)
Employed by economic sector: Agriculture. 15%, industry 17%, business 68% (2017)
Unemployment (in% of all labor force): 2017: 21.0%
Inflation rate (in%): 2017: 0.1%
Foreign trade: import: 660 million US$ (2017); Export: 115 million US $ (2017)