St Vincent and the Grenadines is situated in the southern Windward Islands. It is made up of the main island of St Vincent and a chain of smaller islands to the south called the Grenadines. St Vincent itself is a rugged, forested volcanic island with high mountains in the centre. Its highest peak, La Soufrière, is an active volcano that violently erupted in April 2021 (it previously erupted in 1979), generating highly dangerous pyroclastic flows and causing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. The island's beaches are made of black volcanic sand. The Grenadines are lower-lying, with tropical shrubs and white sandy beaches. The islands have a hot, tropical climate, and like other eastern Caribbean islands, are sometimes struck by hurricanes. Tourism is a major industry for St Vincent and the Grenadines. Some of the Grenadine islands, such as Mustique, are completely owned by tourism companies and have been turned into resorts.

People

Most Vincentians are descended from enslaved Africans brought to work on plantations growing cotton, sugar cane and indigo (a plant used for making dye). Others can trace their ancestry to the Caribs, early inhabitants of the islands. English is the main language but many Vincentians speak Vincentian Creole, a language made up of English, French, native and African languages. Most people live on the main island of St Vincent; those on the tiny Grenadines make a living from fishing or tourism.

Economy

Around two-thirds of the country’s workers make a living from growing bananas or working on plantations. However, the islands are vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, mudslides and hurricanes, which can wipe out an entire year’s banana crop.

Facts about St Vincent and the Grenadines

Population 110,872 (2022 estimate)

Area 389 sq km

Highest Point La Soufrière 1234 m (4049 ft)

Capital Kingstown, population 13,045

Languages English, Creole

Religions Christian (Protestant) 75%, Christian (Roman Catholic) 13%, others 12%

Ethnicity black African 66%, mixed 19%, Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib 2%, others 3%

Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Chief exports bananas, taro (a root vegetable), arrowroot starch (a cooking ingredient), tennis racquets, boats