Economy
Overview: The inhabitants have traditionally
earned their livelihood by fishing and
by servicing fishing fleets operating off the
coast of Newfoundland. The economy has
been declining, however, because the number
of ships stopping at St. Pierre has
steadily dropped over the years. In March
1989, an agreement between France and
Canada set fish quotas for St. Pierre's
trawlers fishing in Canadian and
Canadian-claimed waters for three years.
The agreement settles a longstanding
dispute that had virtually brought fish
exports to a halt. The islands are heavily
subsidized by France. Imports come
primarily from Canada.
GDP: $NA, per capita $2,495 (1984); real growth rate NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 13.3% (1987)
Budget: revenues $NA million; expenditures $13.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)
Exports: $23.3 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities—fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts; partners—US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal
Imports: $50.3 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities—meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials; partners—Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 10,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 3,970 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: fishing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Agriculture: vegetables, cattle, sheep and pigs for local consumption; fish catch, 14,750 metric tons (1986)
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $477 million
Currency: French franc (plural—francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.7598 (January 1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Highways: 120 km total; 60 kM paved
(1985)
Ports: St. Pierre
Civil air: Air Saint-Pierre
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways, none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 3,601 telephones; stations—1 AM, 3 FM, no TV; radiotelecommunication with most countries in the world; 1 satellite earth station in French domestic system
Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of
France
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
_St._Vincent_and_the_Grenadines.jpg)
See regional map III
Geography
Total area: 340 km²; land area: 340 km²
Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims:
- Contiguous zone: 24 nm
- Extended economic zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous; Soufrière volcano on the island of St. Vincent
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: 38% arable land; 12% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; 41% forest and woodland; 3% other; includes 3% irrigated
Environment: subject to hurricanes; Soufrière volcano is a constant threat
Note: some islands of the Grenadines group are administered by Grenada
People
Population: 112,646 (July 1990), growth
rate 1.4% (1990)
Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: -8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 32 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 72 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—St. Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s); adjectives—St. Vincentian or Vincentian
269
