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St Vincent and the Grenadines - Society

Key Facts 2006

  • Birth rate: 20 per 1,000
  • Population per sq km: 311 (2008)
  • Life expectancy: 71 years
  • Infant mortality: 17 per 1,000
  • Adult illiteracy: 11.9%

Population: 121,000 (2008); 47% lives in urban areas; growth 1% p.a. 1970–90 and 0.6% p.a. 1990–2006; birth rate (2006) 20 per 1,000 people (40 in 1970); life expectancy is 71 years (63 in 1970). The population is of African (82%) and mixed (14%) descent, with European, Asian and Carib minorities.

Religion: Mainly Christians (mainly Anglicans, but also Methodists, Roman Catholics and others).
Language: English.

Media: A free press operates in St Vincent and the Grenadines. SVG Television is operated by St Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation. There are several private radio stations and one national radio service, NBC Radio, which is partly government funded.

The Herald is a daily paper; weekly newspapers include The News, Searchlight and The Vincentian.

There are 132 personal computers (2004) and 473 internet users (2007) per 1,000 people.

Education: Public spending on education was 8.1% of GDP in 2005. There are 11 years of compulsory education starting at age five. Net enrolment ratios are 90% for primary and 64% for secondary (2005). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 18:1 and for secondary, 18:1 (2005). The school year starts in September.

Tertiary education is provided at the regional University of the West Indies, which has campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Health: As well as Kingstown General Hospital, there are district hospitals and health centres. Infant mortality was 17 per 1,000 live births in 2006.

Communications: Country code 1 784. Phonecard booths are available on the islands. International calls must go through an operator but can be paid with a credit card.

High-speed internet access is available in many of the hotels and there are a number of internet cafes on the islands. The General Post Office is located in the capital and smaller branches are found throughout the country.

There are 190 main telephone lines and 918 mobile phone subscriptions per 1,000 people (2007).

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, National Heroes’ Day (14 March), Labour Day (first Monday in May), CARICOM Day (first Monday in July), Carnival Tuesday (Tuesday following CARICOM Day), August Monday/Emancipation Day (first Monday in August), Independence Day (27 October), Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Carnival continues for ten days leading up to Carnival Tuesday.

Religious and other festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday and Whit Monday.

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