Population and Demographics

Most Vincentians are the descendants of African slaves brought to the island to work on plantations. There also are a few white descendants of English colonists, as well as some East Indians, Carib Indians, and a sizable minority of mixed race. The country's official language is English. St. Vincent has a high rate of emigration. With extremely high unemployment and under-employment, population growth remains a major problem.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 118,149
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 25.9% (male 15,596/female 15,027)
  • 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 41,259/female 38,620)
  • 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 3,358/female 4,289)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 27.4 years
  • Male: 27.3 years
  • Female: 27.6 years
• Population Growth Rate: 0.248%
• Birth Rate: 16.02 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 5.97 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: -7.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.038 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.068 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.783 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.039 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 14.01 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 15.25 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 12.72 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 74.09 years
  • Male: 72.21 years
  • Female: 76.04 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 1.81 children born/woman
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Black 66%
  • Mixed 19%
  • East Indian 6%
  • Carib Amerindian 2%
  • Other 7%
• Religions:
  • Anglican 47%
  • Methodist 28%
  • Roman Catholic 13%
  • Other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
• Languages:
  • English
  • French patois
• Literacy:
  (Definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school)
  • Total population: 96%
  • Male: 96%
  • Female: 96%