Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, belonging to the Windward Islands. It has an area of 238 square miles (616 square kilometers) and a population of approximately 185,200 people as of 2023. The capital city is Castries, where most of the population is of African descent.
English is the official language, though French patois is also commonly spoken. Christianity (Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations) is the main religion, although Rastafarianism is also practiced. The currency of Saint Lucia is Eastern Caribbean dollar.
The island was formed by volcanic activity, and within the Qualibou Caldera, visitors can witness the ongoing emission of steam and gases from Sulphur Springs, a popular tourist destination. The landscape of Saint Lucia is made up of wooded mountains, the highest peak being Mount Gimie at 3,145 feet (958.6 meters).
Its economy is based on agriculture and tourism. It is a constitutional monarchy with a parliament that consists of two legislative chambers: the Senate (11 members) and the House of Assembly (18 members). The head of state is the British monarch, represented by the governor-general, while the prime minister is the head of government.
Saint Lucia is ranked 192th in the world in terms of population, with a projection of 201,400 people for 2030. Its population density is 772.3 persons per square mile (298.4 per square kilometer). Around 18.7% of the population is urban and 81.3% is rural. In 2019, life expectancy at birth was 74.9 years for males and 77.6 years for females. The gross national income (GNI) in 2020 was US$1,614 million and the GNI per capita was US$8,790.