Country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea
This article is about the country. For the Roman Christian martyr who is sometimes called Saint Lucia, seeSaint Lucy. For other uses, seeSaint Lucia (disambiguation).
The first proven inhabitants of the island, theArawaks, are believed to have been the first to settle on the island in 200–400 AD. In 800 AD, the island was taken over by theKalinago. TheFrench were the firstEuropean colonists to settle on the island, and they signed a treaty with the native Caribs in 1660. TheEnglish took control of the island in 1663. In ensuing years,England andFrance fought 14 times for control of the island; consequently control over this immensely valuable geopolitical position changed frequently. Eventually, theBritish took complete control in 1814, shortly after the victory over French EmperorNapoleon I.[10] Because the island switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the West" after the Greek mythological character,Helen of Troy.[11]
Saint Lucia is named afterSaint Lucy of Syracuse (AD 283 – 304).[14] Saint Lucia is one of two sovereign states in the world named after a female[15] and is the only one named after awoman (Ireland is named after agoddess). Legend states that French sailors wereshipwrecked on the island on 13 December, thefeast day of St. Lucy, and therefore named the island in her honour.[16]
A globe in theVatican from 1520 shows the island as Sancta Lucia, indicating that the island was instead named by earlySpanish explorers.[17] Saint Lucia was first known asLouanalao by theArawak Indians in 200 AD, meaning "Island of theIguanas," and then asHewanorra, in 800 AD, meaning "there where iguanas are found," when theCarib Indians arrived and assimilated their culture into Saint Lucia.[18][19][20]
The first proven inhabitants of Saint Lucia were theArawaks, though there may have been other native peoples prior to them. The Arawaks are believed to have come from northern South America, sometime around AD 200–400, as there are numerousarchaeological sites on the island where specimens of their pottery have been found.[21][22]
TheKalinago (Island Caribs) arrived around AD 800, and seized control from the Arawaks by killing their men and assimilating the women into their own society.[21][23]
It is possible thatChristopher Columbus may have sighted the island during his fourth voyage in 1502, but he does not mention the island in his log.[24]Juan de la Cosa noted the island on his map of 1500, calling itEl Falcon, and another island to the southLas Agujas. A Spanishcédula from 1511 mentions the island within the Spanish domain, and a globe in the Vatican made in 1520, shows the island as Sancta Lucia.[10]
In the late 1550s, the FrenchpirateFrançois le Clerc (known asJambe de Bois, due to his wooden leg) set up a camp onPigeon Island, from where he attacked passing Spanish ships. In 1605, an English vessel called theOliphe Blossome was blown off-course on its way toGuyana, and the 67 colonists started a settlement on Saint Lucia, after initially being welcomed by the Carib chief Anthonie. By 26 September 1605, only 19 survived following continued attacks by the Carib chief Augraumart, so the settlers fled the island.[25] The English tried to settle the island again in 1638, but the Caribs continued to be hostile. Eventually, the French successfully claimed the island in 1650 and they signed a treaty with the Caribs in 1660.[26] In 1664, Thomas Warner (son ofSir Thomas Warner, the governor ofSt Kitts) claimed Saint Lucia for England but the English fled again in 1666, with the French gaining full control of the island after the signing of theTreaty of Breda.[26][27] Saint Lucia was made an official French crown colony in 1674, as a dependency ofMartinique.[28][27]
After the slave-based sugar industry developed, both the British and the French found the island attractive. During the 18th century, the island changed ownership, or was declared neutral territory, a dozen times, although the French settlements remained and the island was a de facto French colony well into the eighteenth century.
In 1722,George I of Great Britain granted both Saint Lucia andSaint Vincent to the2nd Duke of Montagu. Montague appointedNathaniel Uring, a merchant sea captain and adventurer, as deputy-governor. Uring went to the islands with a group of seven ships, and established settlement at Petit Carenage. Unable to get enough support from British warships, he and the new colonists were quickly run off by the French.[29][30]
During theSeven Years' War, Britain occupied Saint Lucia for a year, but handed the island back to the French in 1763, under theTreaty of Paris.[31] Like the English and Dutch on other islands, in 1765, the French began to develop the land for the cultivation of sugar cane as a commodity crop on large plantations. The Britishoccupied the island again in 1778.
From 1782 to 1803, control of the island switched multiple times. In January 1791, during theFrench Revolution, theNational Assembly sent fourcommissaires to St Lucia to spread the revolutionary philosophy. By August 1791, slaves began to abandon their estates and GovernorJean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat fled. In December 1792, Lt.Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse arrived with revolutionary pamphlets, and the impoverished whites and free people of colour began to arm themselves aspatriots. On 1 February 1793, France declared war on England and Holland, and GeneralNicolas Xavier de Ricard took over as Governor. TheNational Convention abolished enslavement on 4 February 1794. On 1 April 1794, St. Lucia was captured by a British expeditionary force led by Vice AdmiralJohn Jervis.Morne Fortune was renamedFort Charlotte. Soon, a combined force ofFrench Revolutionary Army soldiers andmaroons,L'Armee Française dans les Bois, began to fight back, starting the First Brigand War.[32]
A short time later, the British invaded the island as a part of the war with France that had recently broken out. On 21 February 1795, French forces under the nominal control ofVictor Hugues, defeated a battalion of British troops at Vieux Fort and Rabot. In 1796,Castries was burned as part of the conflict. Leading the27th (Inniskilling) Regiment,General John Moore retook Fort Charlotte in 1796, after two days of bitter fighting. As an honour, the Fusiliers' regimental colour was displayed on the flagstaff of the captured fortress atMorne Fortune for an hour before being replaced by theUnion Jack.[33] Upon the capture of the fort, Moore's superior,Ralph Abercromby, departed the island and placed Moore in charge of the British garrison. Moore remained at this post until falling ill withyellow fever, leading to his return to Britain before 1798.
In 1803, the British regained control of the island. Many members of theL'Armee Française dans les Bois escaped into the thick rainforest where they evaded capture and establishedmaroon communities.[34]
Slavery on the island continued for a short time, but anti-slavery sentiment was rising in Britain. The British stopped the import of slaves by anyone, white or coloured, when theyabolished the slave trade in 1807.[35]
France and Great Britain continued to contest Saint Lucia until the British secured it in 1814, as part of theTreaty of Paris, ending theNapoleonic Wars.[36] Thereafter, Saint Lucia was considered one of theBritish Windward Islands colonies.
The institution of slavery was abolished on the island in 1834, as it wasthroughout the British Empire. After abolition, all former slaves had to serve a four-year "apprenticeship", to accustom them to the idea of freedom. During that period, they worked for their former masters for at least three-quarters of the work week. Full freedom was duly granted by the British in 1838.[37] By that time, people of African ethnicity greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background. People of Carib descent also comprised a minority on the island.
Saint Lucia's first representative government was introduced in 1924, with the first election taking place in 1925.[38][39] Many Saint Lucians served during theSecond World War, and the conflict visited the island directly during theBattle of the Caribbean, when a GermanU-boat attacked and sank two British ships inCastries harbour on 9 March 1942.[40] The United States used the island as a military hub during the war, including setting up asecondary naval base inGros Islet and using what is now theisland's international airport as anair force base.
Despite leading the country to independence, Compton's initial term as prime minister lasted only a few months, being defeated by theSaint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) underAllan Louisy in the1979 Saint Lucian general election.[45] In 1980,Hurricane Allen struck the island, destroying much of its infrastructure and reducing economic growth. Compton returned to power after the1982 Saint Lucian general election after much instability during the labour government's term.[46] During Compton's second term as the island's leader, banana exports significantly increased and became the nation's main source of revenue. There were improvements to infrastructure, and education was expanded to rural areas. Saint Lucia was key to theUS invasion of Grenada.[47] During the 1990s and 2000s, the nation's economy began shifting from agriculture to tourism under the leadership ofKenny Anthony. The9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001 killed two Saint Lucians, and caused an economic slowdown, although moderate growth continued until theGreat Recession. The recession, as well as the landfall ofHurricane Tomas in 2010, led to slow economic growth during the early 2010s, although the economy picked up during the later part of the decade and avoided contraction until 2020, after theCOVID-19 pandemic causedmajor economic issues globally.[citation needed]
Saint Lucia has a total area of 617 square kilometers (238 sq mi). As avolcanic island, Saint Lucia is very mountainous, with its highest point beingMount Gimie, at 950 metres (3,120 feet) above sea level.[14][50] ThePitons, two mountainousvolcanic plugs, form the island's most famous landmark.[14][50] Saint Lucia is also home to the world's only drive-in volcano, theSulphur Springs. There are a number ofsmall islands off the coast, the largest of which are the Maria Islands, located in the south-east of the island.
Saint Lucia lies at latitude14° N and longitude61° W. The population tends to be concentrated around the coast, with the interior more sparsely populated, due to the presence of dense forests.[14][50]
Average daytime and nighttime temperatures are around 30 °C (86.0 °F), and 24 °C (75.2 °F) respectively. Being fairly close to the equator, the island's temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer.
Geological map of Saint Lucia.Topography of the Soufriere Volcanic Complex
The geology of St. Lucia can be described as composing three main areas. The oldest, 16–18Ma,volcanic rocks are exposed from Castries northward and consist oferodedbasalt andandesite centres. The middle, central highlands, portion of the island consists of dissected andesite centres, 10.4 to 1 Mya, while the lower southwest portion of the island contains recent activity from the Soufriere Volcanic Centre (SVC). This SVC, centred about theQualiboudepression, containspyroclastic flow deposits,lava flows,domes,block and ash flow deposits, andexplosion craters. This depression's perimeter includes the town of Soufriere, Mount Tabac, Mt. Gimie, Morne Bonin, and Gros Piton. At 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in diameter, though the western portion is open towards the Grenadabasin, the depression formed as recently as 100 kya. The depression is noted for itsgeothermal activity, especially atSulphur Springs andSoufrière Estates, aphreatic eruption in 1776, and recentseismic activity (2000–2001).[56]
Eroded andesiticstratovolcanoes to the north east of the depression includeMt. Gimie, Piton St Esprit, and Mt. Grand Magazin, all greater than 1 Ma in age. Andesitic anddacite pyroclastic flows from these volcanoes are found at Morne Tabac dome (532ka), Morne Bonin dome (273 kya), and Bellevue (264 kya).Avalanche deposits from the formation of the Qualibou depression are found offshore, and in the massive blocks of Rabot, Pleisance, and Coubaril. The dacitic domes ofPetit Piton (109 kya) andGros Piton (71 kya) were thenextruded onto the depression floor accompanied by the Anse John (104 kya) and La Pointe (59.8 kya) pyroclastic flows. Later, pyroclastic flows includepumice-rich Belfond and Anse Noir (20 kya). Finally, the dacitic domes of Terre Blanche (15.3 kya) and Belfond (13.6 kya) formed within the depression.[56]
Saint Lucia is made up of 10 districts. The districts were created and named by French colonials, and the British chose to keep the names in an anglicised form. The largest district in both size and population isCastries, where the nation's capital ofthe same name is located. The following are the 10 districts placed in alphabetical order:
Saint Lucia's homicide rate has hit record highs in recent years. There were 75 homicides in 2021, a 34.5% increase compared with 55 homicides in 2020. 2021 saw the island record the most homicides in its history, and also its highest murder rate in its history, at 40 murders per 100,000 people.[citation needed]
Saint Lucia is aSmall Island Developing State, a designation similar to adeveloping country with a few substantial differences due to Saint Lucia's island nature.[64][65] Theservice sector is the largest sector of the economy, accounting for 86.9% of GDP in 2020, followed byindustrial and agricultural sectors at 10.9% and 2.2%, respectively.[3]
Saint Lucia has been able to attract foreign business and investment due to its educated workforce and improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewerage, and port facilities. Like most small islands, Tourism and offshore banking are Saint Lucia's main sources of revenue.[66] Agriculture, specifically the banana industry, was previously the largest sector of the economy, although its importance has declined significantly. The island's manufacturing sector has been called the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean, with goods such as plastic being produced on a large scale.
Tourism is the largest contributor to Saint Lucia's economy. Tourist numbers tend to be more substantial during the dry season (January to April), often referred to as the tourist season. Saint Lucia's tropical weather, scenery, beaches and resorts have made it a popular tourist destination, with 1.29 million visitors arriving in 2019.[67]
The agricultural sector was once the main contributor to Saint Lucia's economy. This was especially thanks to the exporting of bananas. However, its importance to the economy has declined significantly, in part due to increased competition from South American countries in the banana industry. Nevertheless, agriculture is still an important part of the country's economy, providing 7.9% of jobs and contributing to 2.2% of the GDP in 2021.
About 18% of land is used for agricultural practices.[68] Bananas remain the main agricultural product grown in Saint Lucia, as well as coconuts, cocoa beans, mangoes, avocados, vegetables, citrus fruits, and root crops, such as yams and sweet potatoes.
Saint Lucia also has a small livestock sector, which is dominated by poultry. The island is self-sufficient in egg production and production of poultry and pork has increased in recent years. Fishing has also been of considerable importance to the nation's economy.
Saint Lucia has a wide-ranging public bus network which covers most of the island. Busses are owned by private individuals, whilst the government is responsible for setting up routes and hubs. The road network covers most of the island, although some rural areas still lack access to proper roads.
The island has two airports, including oneInternational airport. Cruising and yachting are very important to the country's economy, with the main sea port being located inCastries, while the main marina is located inRodney Bay which is also home to theSt. Lucia Yacht Club. Meanwhile, the nation's main oil refinery is located in Bexon.[69]
A census is normally held in Saint Lucia every 10 years. In the 2010 census, Saint Lucia reported a population of 165,595 in 58,920 households.[70] This was a 5.1% increase from the 157,490 recorded at the previous census in 2001.[71] Ages 0–14 made up 24.1% of the population whilst those 65 and over made up 8.6%. Nearly 40% of the island's population lived in theDistrict of Castries, where the nation's capital of thesame name is located.
Saint Lucia had a fertility rate of 1.4 children per woman in 2021, the lowest in the Americas. This is much lower than in 1990, when the birth rate was 3.4 children per woman, and significantly lower than in 1959, when the birth rate peaked at 6.98 children per woman.[72] Most emigration from Saint Lucia is primarily toAnglophone countries, with theUnited Kingdom having almost 10,000 Saint Lucian-born citizens, and over 30,000 of Saint Lucian heritage. TheUnited States is home to many Saint Lucians, especially areas such as Miami andNew York City.Canada is also home to many Saint Lucians, and especially in the French-speaking province ofQuebec in the city ofMontréal. The median age of Saint Lucians was 33.1 years in 2021.
Saint Lucia was originally populated byAmerindian peoples. However, European colonisation led to a significant drop in the indigenous populations. Most residents of the island were white planters, but African slaves andindentured servants brought by the Europeans eventually came to outnumber them. Because of this, Saint Lucia's population is predominantly of African and mixed descent. As of 2010, 85.3% of the population are black and 10.9% are of multiracial descent. Other groups includeIndo-Caribbean persons (2.2%), whites (0.6%), and Indigenous Persons (0.6%). A small number of Kalinago live in the Choiseul region and in other towns on the western coast. There is also a small population of Lebanese and Syrians.[73]
The official language of Saint Lucia isEnglish, thoughSaint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) is widely spoken. Referred to colloquially asPatois ("Patwa"), it is spoken by a majority of the population. It is a dialect ofAntillean Creole and is also related toHaitian Creole, though it nonetheless has a number of distinctive features from the latter.[74] The Creole language developed during the early period of French colonisation and is derived chiefly fromFrench andWest African languages. There have been some attempts to make the language official, but they have not yet been successful.
In the 2022 census, a majority of Saint Lucians identified as Christians. This can be traced back to the nation's colonization by French and British settlers. Due to heavy French influence, most Christians on the island areCatholics, with 50.6% of the island's residents identifying as such. The remaining population identifies mostly with Protestant denominations like Seventh-day Adventist and Pentecostal churches. About 1.9% of the population identified as members of theRastafari movement. The number of residents claiming no religion stood at 14.1% in 2022 up from 5.9% in 2011 Census.[75]
There is no state religion in Saint Lucia. The nation's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits forcing persons to take oath to any religion in which they do not follow. Religious groups are also guaranteed the freedom to establish places of education.[76]
Most primary and secondary schools in Saint Lucia are operated by the government. Education is free and compulsory for children aged five to fifteen. This includes seven years of primary school and three to five years of secondary school.[77] In the last two years of secondary school, students are allowed to choose the subjects that they would like to do, in preparation for regionalCSEC examinations. In 2020, public spending on education was at 3.6%.[78]
Health services in Saint Lucia are split between the government and private institutions. The island is served by 2 public hospitals and multiple health centers, although most dental and vision services are private. Public expenditure on healthcare stood at 2.1% in 2019.
In 2021, life expectancy was at 71.1 years (67.8 for men and 74.7 for women). This was compared to 73.4 years in 2019.[79] The drop in life expectancy was largely attributed to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
The culture of Saint Lucia has been influenced by African, East Indian, French, and English heritage. The main secondary language of the island isSaint Lucian Creole (Kwéyòl), a French-based creole spoken by most of the population.[2][80] The island boasts the highest ratio ofNobel laureates produced with respect to the total population of any sovereign country in the world.[b] Two winners have come from Saint Lucia:Sir Arthur Lewis, who won theNobel Prize in Economics in 1979,[81] and the poetDerek Walcott, who received theNobel Prize in Literature in 1992.[82]Saint Lucia has two flower festivals, theLa Rose festival, celebrated on 30 August, and theLa Marguerite festival, celebrated on 17 October. Every summer, the island hosts acarnival as a way to present the country's culture and music. Annually, there are normally many festivals, most of them being music related.
Saint Lucian music is heavily influenced by elements ofAfrican music, especially rhythmically. The most popular music genres in Saint Lucia arecalypso,soca,dancehall,reggae,zouk, andfolk music. Dennery Segment, a genre influenced by Angolan Kuduro, Saint Lucian Solo music and Dancehall was developed on the island. The internationally renownedSaint Lucia Jazz Festival is held annually, and the festival is a major source of revenue for the country's economy.
Saint Lucian cuisine is a mix of African, European, Indian and Caribbean dishes.[83] Some common dishes includemacaroni pie,stewed chicken,rice and peas,roti (Indian flatbreads) andsoups packed full with fresh locally produced vegetables. All mainstream meat and poultry are eaten in St. Lucia; meat and seafood are normally stewed and browned to create a rich gravy sometimes served over "ground provisions" (vegetables) or rice. Johnny Cakes[clarification needed] (known as bakes) are also common, and are served with different sides, such assaltfish. The national dish of Saint Lucia isgreen figs and saltfish.[84]
^ab"About St. Lucia".Castries, St. Lucia: St. Lucia Tourist Board. Archived fromthe original on 5 June 2013.The official language spoken in Saint Lucia is English although many Saint Lucians also speak a French dialect, Creole (Kwéyòl).
^ab"Saint Lucia".CIA World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved13 March 2018.
^"Human development indices"(PDF). Undp.org. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Electoral History".Saint Lucia Electoral Department. 13 September 2023. Retrieved10 May 2025.
^Digital, V. P. (17 November 2014)."Remembering What to Never Forget".St. Lucia News From The Voice. The Voice SLU. The Voice SLU.Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved13 February 2023.
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^abLindsay, Jan; Trumbull, Robert; Schmitt, Axel; Stockli, Daniel; Shane, Phil; Howe, Tracy (2013). "Volcanic stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Soufriere Volcanic Centre, Saint Lucia with implications for volcanic hazards".Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research.258:126–142.Bibcode:2013JVGR..258..126L.doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2013.04.011.
^Nations, United."Member States".United Nations.Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved12 February 2023.
^"Small Island Developing States". New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development.Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved13 March 2018.
^"List of Small Island Developing States". New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development.Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved13 March 2018.
^Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (U.S. Department of State) (12 August 2011)."Background Note: Saint Lucia".United States Department of State.Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved11 November 2011.Languages: English (official); a French patois is common throughout the country.
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