Society of St Vincent and the Grenadines

KEY FACTS 2015

Population per sq km: 281

Life expectancy: 73 years

Net primary enrolment: 95% (2012)

Population: 109,000 (2015); 51 per cent of people live in urban areas; growth 0.1 per cent p.a. 1990–2015, depressed over this period by emigration; birth rate 16 per 1,000 people (40 in 1970); life expectancy 73 years (63 in 1970).

The population is mostly of African or mixed descent, with Indian, European and Carib minorities.

Language: English is the official language; an English-based Creole is widely spoken.

Religion: Mainly Christians (Anglicans 47 per cent, Methodists 28 per cent, Roman Catholics 13 per cent); with a small community of Hindus.

Media: The Herald is a daily paper. Weekly newspapers include The News, Searchlight and The Vincentian.

SVG Television and NBC Radio are the public service providers. There are several private radio stations.

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, National Heroes’ Day (14 March), Labour Day (first Monday in May), Carnival (Monday and Tuesday in July), 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