Geography

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies between Saint Lucia and Grenada in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, an island arc of the Caribbean Sea. The islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines include the main island of Saint Vincent and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines, a chain of small islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada. Its total land area is 389 sq km of which 344 sq km is the island of Saint Vincent. The country's capital is at Kingstown on Saint Vincent.

The main island of Saint Vincent is mostly volcanic and includes very little level ground. There is also a large difference between the coastlines on each side of the island. The windward side is very rocky, while the leeward side consists of many sandy beaches and has many more bays. The island's as well as the country's highest peak is the volcanic Soufrière at 1234 m. There are several tiny islets offshore of Saint Vincent including Young Island and the Cow and Calves Islands.

In addition to Saint Vincent, major islands in the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are the northern Grenadines including (from north to south) the islands of:

• Bequia
• Petite Nevis
• Quatre
• Bettowia
• Baliceaux
• Mustique
• Petite Mustique
• Savan
• Petite Canouan
• Canouan
• Mayreau
• The Tobago Cays
• Union Island
• Petit Saint Vincent
• Palm Island

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Grenadines also include hundreds of smaller islets. The remainder of the Grenadines to the south are administered by Grenada.

Facts and Figures

• Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
• Geographic Coordinates: 13° 15' N, 61° 12' W
• Area:
  • Total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
  • Land: 389 sq km
  • Water: 0 sq km
• Land Boundaries: 0 km
• Coastline: 84 km
• Maritime claims:
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm
  • Contiguous zone: 24 nm
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  • Continental shelf: 200 nm
• Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
• Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
• Elevation Extremes:
  • Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  • Highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
• Natural Resources:
  • Hydropower
  • Cropland
• Land Use:
  • Arable land: 17.95%
  • Permanent crops: 17.95%
  • Other: 64.1%
• Irrigated land: 10 sq km
• Natural Hazards:
  • Hurricanes
  • Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
• Environmental Issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive.