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Geography of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
land: 389 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:84 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:hydropower, cropland
Land use:arable land: 17.95%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 64.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment - current issues:pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Quickstats

  • Population: 118,149 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 389 sq km
  • Density: 307 /km² (39th)
  • GDP (total): $342 million (212nd)
  • GDP (per capita): $7,493 (82nd)
  • Literacy: 96%

Languages of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Useful to know

  • Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
  • Dial code: +1 784

International Trade

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