Saint Lucia | History, Geography, & Points Of Interest | Britannica

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• Introduction & Quick Facts
• Land
  • Relief and drainage
  • Climate
  • Plant and animal life
• People
• Economy
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  • Manufacturing
  • Trade
  • Transportation
• Government and society
  • Constitutional framework
  • Justice
  • Health and welfare
  • Education
  • Communications
• History
  • French and British territorial rivalry
  • Independence

References & Edit History Facts & Stats Images For Students Saint Lucia summary Quizzes The Country Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz Which Country Is Larger? Quiz Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz Related Questions

• Who were the first members of the Commonwealth?
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External Websites

• Official Tourism Site of Saint Lucia, West Indies
• globalEDGE - Saint Lucia: Introduction
• BBC News - St Lucia country profile
• Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Saint Lucia
• CRW Flags - Saint Lucia

Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

• Saint Lucia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Saint Lucia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Saint Lucia island country, West Indies Ask Anything Quick Summary Saint Lucia Facts and Stats History and Colonization Geography and Climate Culture and Society Economy and Resources Tourism and Attractions Written by David Lawrence Niddrie Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville. Author of Caribbean Geography and others. David Lawrence NiddrieAll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 3, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Quick Summary Saint Lucia Facts and Stats History and Colonization Geography and Climate Culture and Society Economy and Resources Tourism and Attractions Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask Anything Top Questions

• Where is Saint Lucia located?
• What type of climate does Saint Lucia have?
• What languages are spoken in Saint Lucia?
• What are some famous geographical features of Saint Lucia?
• What is the history of Saint Lucia's independence?
• How do people earn a living in Saint Lucia today?

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News •

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Saint Lucia, island state in the Caribbean Sea. It is the second largest of the Windward group in the Lesser Antilles and is located about 24 miles (39 km) south of Martinique and some 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Saint Vincent.

Saint Lucia is 27 miles (43 km) long and has a maximum width of 14 miles (23 km). The capital and major port is Castries. Saint Lucia is a member of the Commonwealth.

Quick Facts See article: flag of Saint Lucia Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Philip J. Pierre (Show more) Capital: Castries (Show more) Population: (2025 est.) 174,800 (Show more) Head Of State: British Monarch: King Charles III, represented by Governor-General: Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles (acting) (Show more) Form Of Government: constitutional monarchy with a Parliament consisting of two legislative chambers (Senate [111]; House of Assembly [182]) (Show more) Official Language: English (Show more) Official Religion: none (Show more) Official Name: Saint Lucia (Show more) Total Area (Sq Km): 626 (Show more) Total Area (Sq Mi): 242 (Show more) Monetary Unit: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) (Show more) Population Rank: (2025) 191 (Show more) Population Projection 2030: 201,400 (Show more) Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: (2025) 734.5 (Show more) Density: Persons Per Sq Km: (2025) 283.8 (Show more) Urban-Rural Population: Urban: (2024) 19.3% Rural: (2024) 80.7% (Show more) Life Expectancy At Birth: Male: (2022) 76.2 years Female: (2022) 81.8 years (Show more) Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: Male: not available Female: not available (Show more) Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): (2023) 2,215 (Show more) Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): (2023) 12,350 (Show more)

1. Seats are appointed by the governor-general.
2. One seat is reserved for the speaker, who may be elected from outside the House of Assembly.

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Land

Relief and drainage

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The island is of volcanic origin and is bisected from north to south by a central ridge of wooded mountains, the highest point being Mount Gimie (3,145 feet [959 metres]). Many streams flow from the mountains through fertile valleys. In the southwest are the Gros and Petit Pitons (2,619 feet [798 metres] and 2,460 feet [750 metres], respectively), two immense pyramids of rock rising sharply from the sea and enclosing a small bay. Near Petit Piton, in the crater of an ancient volcano, are the boiling sulphur springs from which the nearby town of Soufrière takes its name. A choice tourist site, the springs also contain substantial energy potential.

Climate

Saint Lucia lies in the path of the northeastern trade winds and has a tropical maritime climate. Rainfall and temperature vary with elevation. Average annual rainfall ranges from 51 inches (1,295 mm) on the coast to as much as 150 inches (3,810 mm) in the interior. There is a dry season roughly from January to April and a rainy season from May to November. The mean temperature is about 80 °F (27 °C), with highs sometimes ranging into the upper 80s (31 °C) and lows into the upper 60s (20 °C).

Plant and animal life

The forest, which has been reduced through lumbering, contains colourful orchids and anthurium. The rich birdlife includes the Saint Lucian parrot (the endangered national bird), the Saint Lucia black finch, and the Saint Lucia oriole. There is also a lizard unique to Saint Lucia, and the agouti is common.

Britannica Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz

People

No Caribs remain on the island; the vast majority of the inhabitants of the island are black and there is a small minority of mulattoes and other mixtures. The remainder are whites or of East Indian extraction. A French patois is spoken by most of the inhabitants but is being gradually supplanted by English, the official language. The main religion is Roman Catholicism, and Seventh-day Adventists and other Protestants are important minorities. The rate of population growth for Saint Lucia is slightly higher than the Caribbean average. The main population centres are Castries and Vieux Fort.

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Economy

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing

Sugarcane was formerly the chief crop, but production ceased entirely in 1964, when most of the cane fields were converted to banana cultivation. Bananas are now the principal crop. Other crops are coconuts, cacao, citrus and other fruit, spices, cassava, and yams. There is a steady local fishing industry.

Manufacturing

Saint Lucia’s manufacturing sector has been a major beneficiary of the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative, a program designed to promote manufacturing in the region. An industrial free zone has been established in the south of the island near Vieux Fort; there factories produce and export electronic goods and toys. Other industries produce cardboard cartons, clothing, rum, tobacco products, coconut products, concrete blocks, and beer. Tourism has developed rapidly since 1970; in 1987 a complex for cruise ships was opened near Castries.

Trade

The chief exports are bananas, cardboard cartons, clothing, coconut products, and electronic goods. Saint Lucia’s major trading partners are the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, Barbados, and Dominica. Imports include food, fuels, and manufactured goods.

Transportation

There is an international airport at Vieux Fort, at the southern tip of the island, and a smaller airport at Vigie for domestic and regional flights. International shipping lines operate from the ports at Castries and Vieux Fort. In addition, there is an oil transshipment terminal near Castries.

Government and society

Constitutional framework

Saint Lucia is a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch as head of state, represented by a governor-general. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Assembly elected by universal adult suffrage and the Senate, with members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, on the advice of the opposition leader in the House, and by the governor-general. The prime minister, leader of the majority party, heads the government.

Justice

Saint Lucia has retained its association with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of appeal and a high court.

Health and welfare

Several general hospitals and many health centres are distributed throughout the island. There is also a private hospital operated by a religious order at Vieux Fort.

Education

Primary education is free and compulsory, and there is a branch of the University of the West Indies at Castries. There is also a technical college and a teacher-training college. Many of the primary schools are parochial, principally Roman Catholic.

Communications

Several newspapers are published on the island, and radio and television broadcasts are widely received.