Country Profile
Saint Lucia is a sovereign island in the Caribbean.
We are located on the boundaries of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. We’re part of a group of islands called the Lesser Antilles. Geographically, we’re located northwest of Barbados, north of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and south of the French Island of Martinique.
Saint Lucia’s main source of income is tourism. In fact, many Saint Lucians are either directly or indirectly employed by the tourism industry. Prior to the rise of the tourism industry, banana exports counted for a significant portion of Saint Lucia’s GDP. Bananas ceased to be big business following an end to preferential treatment for the Saint Lucian product from European markets.
Most Saint Lucians are of African descent, a direct consequence of the legacy of slavery on the island. After becoming independent on February 22nd, 1979, Saint Lucia is considered to be a Commonwealth state. This means that Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State. She is represented on the island by the Governor General, Sir Neville Cenac. Executive power is in the hands of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and his cabinet of ministers.
Want to know more about Saint Lucia? We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions below.
ISLAND Q&A
Saint Lucia. Not St Lucia or St. Lucia.
Our capital is the city of Castries, located on the northern end of the island. That’s where Export Saint Lucia is located.
The island is 617 km2 / 238.23 square miles
As of 2018, there are an estimated 178,696 people living in Saint Lucia
2021 estimates say that there are 301 people living in every square kilometer
Our official language is English. Antillean Creole is spoken throughout the island as well
CURRENCY FACTS
Q - What is Saint Lucia’s currency?
A - We use the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD). It’s a regional currency shared between members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. The US exchange rate averages XCD$2.70 = USD$1
CLIMATE FACTS
Q - What is Saint Lucia’s climate?
A - The island has a tropical climate throughout the year. The average temperature year-round is 77℉ (25℃) and 80℉ (27℃). The year is split into two seasons: a dry season from December 1st to May 31st, and a wet season from June 1st to November 30th.
PORTS OF ENTRY FACTS
Q - How can I enter Saint Lucia?
A - Via the airport: There are two airports in Saint Lucia. The Hewannora International Airport in the southern town of Vieux Fort receives international jet flights. The George F.L Charles Airport, located in Castries, receives smaller flights from around the region, as well as some cargo shipments.
Via the seaports: Saint Lucia’s main seaport is Port Castries. Located within the port, cruise ships are received at the recently expanded Pointe Seraphine. Cargo and container ships are also facilitated at a deep water anchorage in Vieux Fort.
Traveling by yacht or smaller vessels? You can enter Saint Lucia through the Rodney Bay Marina
SAINT LUCIA’S MAIN EXPORTS
Q - What are Saint Lucia’s main exports?
A - Saint Lucia’s main exports are bananas, clothing, cacao, vegetables, fruits & coconut oil. Sea moss is also generating lots of good press as a major Saint Lucian export.
SAINT LUCIA’S HOLIDAYS
Q - What are Saint Lucia’s holidays?
A -
- New Year’s Holidays - January 1st & 2nd
- Independence Day - February 22nd
- Good Friday *
- Easter Monday *
- Labour Day - May 1st
- Whit Monday *
- Corpus Christi *
- Emancipation Day - August 1st
- Thanksgiving *
- National Day - December 13th
- Christmas Day - December 25th
- Boxing Day - December 26th
‘*’ Dates vary every year
QUALITY OF LIFE
Q - What is the life expectancy like in Saint Lucia?
A - In 2018, the World Bank estimated Saint Lucia’s life expectancy to be 76 years.
TIME ZONE
Q - What is the local time in Saint Lucia?
A - In Saint Lucia, we are in the UTC-4. This means that we are 1 hour ahead of Washington DC during standard time.
TELEPHONE CODE
Q - How do I call a Saint Lucian number?
A - If you’re trying to contact someone in Saint Lucia, be sure to add the area code ‘758’
HEALTH FACTS
Q - Where can I access medical care in Saint Lucia?
A - There are various options for medical care in Saint Lucia including several community wellness centers, private doctors, and public and private hospitals.
In Castries, there are two hospitals. The Victoria Hospital was retrofitted to a Respiratory Hospital to deal with COVID-19 cases. The Owen King EU Hospital is the general hospital in Castries. Tapion Hospital, a private hospital, is also located in Castries.
The St Judes Hospital is located in Vieux Fort, while smaller facilities exist in Soufriere and Dennery.
THE ECONOMY
Q - What does Saint Lucia’s economy look like?
A - Since the European Union no longer provides preferential treatment for bananas from Saint Lucia, we have been pushed to diversify the economy. We have been able to successfully attract foreign business and investments, primarily in tourism and offshore banking.
Tourism is our main source of foreign exchange. At the same time, Saint Lucia boasts an extremely diverse manufacturing industry including water, furniture, mattresses, cleaning products, and cardboard boxes. There are current attempts to revitalize the banana industry.
- Saint Lucia’s GDP: XCD$911.68 million (2nd Quarter of 2020)
- Saint Lucia’s GDP Growth Rate: -0.33 (2nd Quarter of 2020)
- Per Capita GDP: XCD$5,101.84 (Based on 2020 estimates)
- Unemployment Rate: 16.83% (2019)
Several industries in Saint Lucia have benefitted from improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewage, and port facilities. Massive foreign investments are exemplified in the Buckeye petroleum storage and shipment terminal in Cul De Sac.
Are you a Saint Lucian manufacturer or service provider?
Join us at Export Saint Lucia. We’re developing an economy based on our culture, human resources, sound governance, and an open economy.