POPULATION COMPOSITION: afrocaribiere 90%, mixed 6%, indians 3%, others 1%
GDP PER residents: 7769 USD (2011)
LIFE EXPECTANCY: men 72 years, women 75 years (2007)
INDEX OF LIVING CONDITIONS, HDI: 0.725
INTERNET DOMAIN NAME: .lc
Saint Lucia, an independent island nation in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean located between Martinique and Saint Vincent. As in the region’s other small island states, the original plantation economy has now been replaced by tourism. The country is a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and has the East Caribbean dollar as its currency.
National flag
The flag was originally adopted in 1967, and its current design dates from 1979. The black figure represents The Pitons, two volcanic formations that symbolize hope, and the black and white represent the two most important populations on the island. The yellow color represents sunshine and the blue stands for the sea.
Geography
The island consists of folded limestone and volcanic rocks and reaches 950 mi Mount Gimie in the middle of the island; very markedly, Petit and Gros Piton (750 and 798 m) stand close to the west coast. They are both inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The climate is tropical and humid, characterized by the Northeast Passage and with the greatest rainfall from May to August. Lush rainforests are found in the mountains, while 20% of the island is cultivated, especially the short river valleys. Traditionally, the export of bananas has had a major impact on the economy. The island has attracted some light industry, sportswear and toys, but tourism in particular is growing strongly.
90% of the population are descendants of colonial-era plantation slaves who were brought from Africa. English is the official language, but the island’s changing history can be seen in the spread of French-based patois (dialect) and the great spread of the Roman Catholic Church. Abroad, the country is known for having fostered two Nobel laureates: in 1979 the economist WA Lewis (1915-91) and in 1992 the author D. Walcott.
Countryaah: Do you know how many people there are in St. Lucia? Check this site to see population pyramid and resident density about this country.
History
When the first Europeans arrived around 1500, the island was inhabited by Caribbean people. The first English attempts at settlement in the early 1600’s. was made difficult by the Caribbean. In 1635, France claimed the right to the island, and in 1660, they made an agreement with the Caribbean to divide the island. From 1664 and the following 150 years, Saint Lucia was alternately English, French and neutral on the basis of peace treaties concluded in Europe. In 1814 the island became a British Crown Colony. Under both French and British rule, African slaves were imported for plantation operations; slavery was abolished in 1834. In 1967 the island gained the status of an associated state with internal self-government, and in 1979 Saint Lucia became an independent state within the Commonwealth. The Labor Party won the country’s first election and established political relations with Cuba. Saint Lucia took part in the invasion of Grenada in October 1983. After some years in opposition, the Labor Party won in 1997 by an overwhelming majority and retained government power in the 2001 elections.
