The island of St Lucia is part of the Windward Islands, a chain that stretches north-south along the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea. Its landscape is chiefly made up of forested mountains—it is one of the most mountainous islands in the Caribbean. On the island’s western side are the Pitons, twin cone-shaped volcanic peaks. At the coast, white beaches are lapped by clear, shallow seas. Just offshore lie spectacular coral reefs, teeming with tropical fish. St Lucia has a warm, tropical climate, but winds from the northeast keep it dry and breezy. Between June and November, the island is hotter and wetter, but sometimes at risk from hurricanes.

People

St Lucians are descended from enslaved Africans who were forcibly imported in the 17th century to work on sugar cane plantations. Most people speak the local form of Antillean Creole, based on a mixture of French and West African languages. Although the capital, Castries, is home to about a third of the population, a large number of people live in small villages, making a living by fishing or by growing vegetables, mangoes and coconuts.

Economy

St Lucia’s biggest crop is bananas. The industry faces both competition from other Caribbean islands and the risk of hurricanes, which can severely damage a whole year’s crop. Tourism is becoming more and more important to St Lucia: the island’s beaches, resorts and coral reefs attract thousands of visitors each year, many of whom arrive on cruise ships.

Facts about St Lucia

Population 179,285 (2023 estimate)

Area 616 sq km

Highest Point Mount Gimie 951 m (3119 ft)

Capital Castries, population 35,831

Other major cities Bisée (pop. 12,980)

Languages English, French patois / Antillean Creole

Religions Christian (Roman Catholic) 62%, Christian (Protestant) 26%, other Christian 3%, Rastafari 2%, others and none 7%

Ethnicity black African 85%, mixed 11%, Indian 2%, others 2%

Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Chief exports bananas, cocoa, clothing, avocadoes, mangoes, coconut oil, petroleum