St. Lucia

At a Glance

Official Name: Saint Lucia

Continent: South America

Area: 236 square miles (610 sq. km)

Population: 158,178

Capital City: Castries

Largest City: Castries (53,383)

Unit of Money: East Caribbean dollar

Major Languages: English, patois

Literacy: 67%

Land Use: 8% arable, 21% permanent crops, 5% pastures, 13% forests, 53% other

Natural Resources: Forests, sandy beaches, pumice

Government: Parliamentary democracy

Defense: 5 million

The Place

Saint Lucia, with a land area of 236 square miles (610 sq. km), is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. It is one of the Windward Islands, an island chain in the southeastern West Indies. Saint Lucia lies about 240 miles (385 kilometers) north of Venezuela. Saint Lucia is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Windwards. The twin Pitons, conical peaks south of the city of Soufriere, are among the most photographed natural features in the Caribbean. The highest point on Saint Lucia is Mt. Gimie, an extinct volcano, which reaches a height of 3,054 feet (937 meters). The climate has a yearly dry season from January to April, which brings intense heat to the land. During the rainy season, short showers can be expected every day. Roads in the country are found mainly on the western and southeastern coasts. The central part of the island is a mountainous rain forest.

The People

Almost 90% of the people of Saint Lucia are descendants of black African slaves, brought to the island by early British and French settlers. A mix of South Asians and Europeans comprise the remainder of the population. About 55% of the islanders live in rural areas, and work mainly on large banana farms. It is not uncommon for women to run many of the small farms. Many Saint Lucian men work in the towns or emigrate to other countries for work. About 45% of the people live in urban areas, which lie near the coast. The average salary of an hourly employee is about 87 per week. Many Saint Lucians work in service industries related to the island's large tourism industry. Crime is very rare on the island. Life expectancy is 72 years. Children are required to attend school from ages 5 to 15. It has become more common in recent years for Saint Lucian women to receive a university education and move into legal or medical careers.