Editing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

{{short description|Country in the Caribbean}}
{{About||the islands of the sovereign state|Saint Vincent (Antilles)|and|Grenadines}}
{{Other uses|Saint Vincent (disambiguation)|Grenadine (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox country
| religion               = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
 |88.6% [[Christianity]]
 |—70.2% [[Protestantism]]
 |—18.4% other [[Christian]]
 |3.4% [[Hinduism]]
 |2.5% [[Irreligion|no religion]]
 |1.8% [[Rastafari]]
 |1.6% [[Baháʼí Faith]]
 |1.5% [[Islam]]
 |0.5% other}}
| religion_year          = 2020
| religion_ref           = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=192c|title=National Profiles|access-date=14 October 2022|archive-date=14 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014054714/https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=192c|url-status=live}}</ref>
| languages_type         = [[Vernacular language]]
| languages              = [[Vincentian Creole]]
| conventional_long_name = Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| common_name            = Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| image_flag             = Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg
| coa_size               = 75
| symbol                 = Coat of arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| symbol_type            = Coat of arms
| image_map              = File: VCT_orthographic.svg
| image_map2             = 
| national_motto         = {{native phrase|la|"Pax et Justitia"|italics=off}}<br/>"Peace and Justice"
| royal_anthem           = "[[God Save the King]]"{{efn|As a [[Commonwealth realm]], Saint Vincent and the Grenadines retains "God Save the King" as its royal anthem by precedent, with the song played on royal and vice-regal occasions.<ref>{{cite web|title=nationalanthems.info|url=https://nationalanthems.info/vc.htm|access-date=21 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008033048/https://nationalanthems.info/vc.htm|archive-date=8 October 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=23 August 2019|title=PM questions playing of 'God Save The Queen' in SVG|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/23/pm-questions-playing-of-god-save-the-queen-in-svg/|url-status=live|website=iWitness News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623173606/https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/23/pm-questions-playing-of-god-save-the-queen-in-svg/|archive-date=23 June 2024|access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=2 August 2019|title=SVG gov't opts to install new GG on Emancipation Day|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/02/svg-govt-opts-to-install-new-gg-on-emancipation-day/|url-status=live|website=iWitness News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824022441/https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/02/svg-govt-opts-to-install-new-gg-on-emancipation-day/|archive-date=24 August 2024|access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>}} [[File:U.S. Navy Band - God Save the King.oga]]
| national_anthem        = "[[Saint Vincent, Land so Beautiful]]"<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|[[File:National anthem of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, performed by the United States Navy Band.oga]]}}</div>
| official_languages     = [[English language|English]]
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list
  | 66% [[Afro-Vincentians|Black (African)]]
  | 19% [[Multiracial|Mixed]]
  | 6% [[Indo-Vincentian|Indian]]
  | 4% [[White Caribbeans|European]]
  | 2% [[Kalinago]]
  | 3% others
 }}
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2020
| demonym                = [[Demographics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Vincentian and Grenadinian]]<br />Vincy (colloquial)
| capital                = [[Kingstown]]
| coordinates            = {{Coord|13|10|N|61|14|W|type:city}}
| largest_city           = capital
| government_type        = Unitary [[parliamentary constitutional monarchy]]
| leader_title1          = [[Monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Monarch]]
| leader_name1           = [[Charles III]]
| leader_title2          = {{nowrap|[[Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Governor-General]]}}
| leader_name2           = [[Susan Dougan]]
| leader_title3          = [[List of Prime Ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name3           = [[Ralph Gonsalves]]
| legislature            = [[House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|House of Assembly]]
| sovereignty_type       = [[Independence]]
| established_event1     = [[Associated Statehood Act 1967|Associated State]]
| established_date1      = 27 October 1969
| established_event2     = from the [[United Kingdom]]
| established_date2      = 27 October 1979
| area_rank              = 184th
| area_magnitude         = 
| area_km2               = 389
| area_sq_mi             = 
| percent_water          = negligible
| population_estimate    = 110,872<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://stats.gov.vc/subjects/population-and-demography/mid-year-total-population-estimates-by-age-and-sex/|title="Mid Year Total Population Estimates by Age and Sex, 2018 to 2022"|publisher=Statistical Office, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422031423/https://stats.gov.vc/subjects/population-and-demography/mid-year-total-population-estimates-by-age-and-sex/|archive-date=22 April 2023}}</ref>
| population_estimate_rank = 180th
| population_estimate_year = 2022
| population_census      = 109,991<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.gov.vc/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2012-Housing-and-Population-Census-Report-final-draft-4.pdf|title=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Population and Housing Census Report 2012|date=2012|publisher=Statistical Office, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422191346/https://stats.gov.vc/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2012-Housing-and-Population-Census-Report-final-draft-4.pdf|archive-date=22 April 2023}}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2012
| population_density_km2 = 307
| population_density_sq_mi = 792
| population_density_rank = 39th
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $2 billion
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2023
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $17,840<ref name="IMF">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=364,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2024&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|publisher=International Monetary Fund|date=October 2023|access-date=13 December 2023|title=World Economic Outlook October 2023 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)|archive-date=13 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213200620/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=364,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2024&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $1 billion
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2023
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $9,360<ref name="IMF" />
| Gini_year              = 
| Gini_change            = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini                   = <!--number only-->
| Gini_ref               = 
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI_year               = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change             = decrease<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI                    = 0.772
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2023/24|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=13 March 2024|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 81st
| currency               = [[East Caribbean dollar]]
| currency_code          = XCD
| time_zone              = [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
| utc_offset             = -4
| time_zone_DST          = 
| utc_offset_DST         = 
| drives_on              = left
| calling_code           = [[Area code 784|+1 784]]
| cctld                  = [[.vc]]
| today                  = 
}}
'''Saint Vincent and the Grenadines''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.ogg|ˌ|ɡ|r|ɛ|n|.|ə|ˈ|d|iː|n|z}}; {{respell|GREN|ə|DEENZ}}}} sometimes known simply as '''Saint Vincent''' or '''SVG''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=SVG Facts |url=https://tourism.gov.vc/tourism/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=20&Itemid=71 |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=tourism.gov.vc}}</ref> is an [[island country]] in the eastern [[Caribbean]]. It is located in the southeast [[Windward Islands]] of the [[Lesser Antilles]], which lie in the [[West Indies]], at the southern end of the eastern border between the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. To the north lies [[Saint Lucia]], to the east is [[Barbados]], and [[Grenada]] lies to the south. 

Spanning a land area of {{convert|369|km2|abbr=on}}, most of its territory consists of the northernmost island of [[Saint Vincent (Antilles)|Saint Vincent]], which includes the capital and largest city, [[Kingstown]]. To the south lie two-thirds of the northern part of the [[Grenadines]], a chain of 32 smaller islands; the remaining southern third make up Grenada. Seven of the islands are inhabited,<ref>Not including those island that are part of Grenada: [[Petite Martinique]] and [[Carriacou]]. </ref> of which the largest and most populous are [[Bequia]], [[Mustique]], [[Canouan]], and [[Union Island]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geography |url=https://tourism.gov.vc/tourism/index.php/svg-facts/72-essentials |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=tourism.gov.vc}}</ref>{{efn|The remaining inhabited islands are [[Petit Saint Vincent]], [[Palm Island, Grenadines|Palm Island]], [[Mayreau]]; additionally, [[Young Island (Grenadines)|Young Island]] is an inhabited privately owned island. Uninhabited islands include [[Tobago Cays]], [[Baliceaux]], [[Battowia]], [[Quatre]], [[Petite Mustique]], [[Savan (island)|Savan]] and [[Petit Nevis]].}}

With an estimated population of around 110,872, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a population density of over 300 inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup> (700 per sq mi).<ref name="auto"/> The majority of its people are descendants of enslaved Africans  brought by France and the later Great Britain, which contested the islands during the 18th century. SVG remained a colony of the British Empire from 1783 until 1979, when it peacefully achieved independence; the country's culture, language, government, and legal system reflect the long legacy of British rule, and it is part of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and is a [[Commonwealth realm]], with [[King Charles III]] as its official head of state.

Saint Vincent is a member of the [[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]], [[Caribbean Community|CARICOM]], the [[Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas]], and the [[Community of Latin American and Caribbean States]] (CELAC).

In April 2021, the [[La Soufrière (Saint Vincent)|La Soufrière]] volcano [[2021 eruption of La Soufrière|erupted]] several times with "explosive events" continuing for two weeks, resulting in the evacuation of 16,000 residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/a36096361/st-vincent-volcano-eruption-2021-news/|title=Everything We Know About the Volcano Eruption on St. Vincent|website=Town&Country magazine|date=12 April 2021|access-date=13 April 2021|quote=|archive-date=11 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711181733/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/a36096361/st-vincent-volcano-eruption-2021-news/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/986302206/from-bad-to-worse-la-soufriere-continues-to-erupt|title=From Bad To Worse: La Soufrière Volcano Continues To Erupt|website=NPR|date=12 April 2021|access-date=12 April 2021|quote=|last1=Jones|first1=Dustin|archive-date=15 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715231321/https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/986302206/from-bad-to-worse-la-soufriere-continues-to-erupt|url-status=live}}</ref> Assistance and emergency financial support was provided by several nearby islands, the [[United Kingdom]], and agencies such as the [[United Nations]]. The first significant offer of long-term funding of US$20 million, was announced on 13 April 2021 by the [[World Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nycaribnews.com/articles/us20m-for-st-vincent-volcano-response-from-world-bank/|title=US$20m for St. Vincent volcano response from World Bank|website=NY Carib News|access-date=13 April 2021|quote=|archive-date=11 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711181514/https://www.nycaribnews.com/articles/us20m-for-st-vincent-volcano-response-from-world-bank/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[Christopher Columbus]], the first European to reach the island, named it after [[St. Vincent of Saragossa]] (''San Vicente de Zaragoza'') whose [[Calendar of saints|feast day]] was on the day Columbus first saw it (22 January 1498). The name of the Grenadines refers to the Spanish city of [[Granada]], but to differentiate it from [[Grenada|the island of the same name]], the diminutive was used. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the [[Kalinago]] natives who inhabited the island of St. Vincent called it Youloumain, in honour of Youlouca, the spirit of the rainbows, who they believed inhabited the island.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/|title=CIA World Factbook – St Vincent|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=12 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812031210/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thecommonwealth.org">{{cite web|url=http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-vincent-and-grenadines/history|title=The Commonwealth – St Vincent and the Grenadines|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=22 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122222628/https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-vincent-and-grenadines/history|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|French West Indies|British West Indies}}

===Pre-colonial period===
[[Saint Vincent (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)|Saint Vincent]] was first inhabited by the [[Ciboney]] people from [[South America]] around 5000 B.C. They were succeeded by the [[Arawak|Arawaks]] around the 3rd century A.D., who were later displaced by the [[Caribbean|Caribs]] ([[Kalinago]]) in the 14th century.<ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indigenousreview.blogspot.com.au/#stash.9WFLBXgH.dpuf|title=Review of the Indigenous Caribbean|website=indigenousreview.blogspot.com.au|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307122251/http://indigenousreview.blogspot.com.au/#stash.9WFLBXgH.dpuf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-05-24 |title=St. Vincent |url=https://indigenouscaribbean.wordpress.com/directory/st-vincent/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Indigenous Caribbean Center |language=en}}</ref><ref name="britannica.com" /> The Kalinago named the island Youloumain.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Historic Account of Saint Vincent, the Kalinago Youroumayn, the island of the Karaÿbes|author=Frere. Adrien Le Breton SJ. (1662–1736)|publisher=Museum of Natural History, Fonds Jussieu|location=Paris}}</ref>

=== European arrival and early colonial period ===
It is thought that [[Christopher Columbus]] sighted the island in 1498, giving it the name St Vincent.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Webmaster |date=2022-01-28 |title=No longer ‘discovered’ - Searchlight |url=https://www.searchlight.vc/r-rose-eye-of-the-needle/2022/01/28/no-longer-discovered/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.searchlight.vc |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Kalinago]] people aggressively opposed European settlement on Saint Vincent.<ref name="britannica.com">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines|author=David Lawrence Niddrie, Richard Tolson, Adrian Fraser|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|title=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|date=21 October 2019|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811210421/https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/>

=== French and British colonisation and First Carib War ===

Various attempts by the English and Dutch to claim the island proved unsuccessful, and it was the French who were first able to colonise the island, settling in the town of [[Barrouallie]] on the [[Windward and leeward|leeward]] side of St Vincent in 1719.<ref name="britannica.com"/> The French imported Black slaves to work on plantations producing sugar, coffee, indigo, tobacco, cotton and cocoa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://svgancestry.com/index.php/st-vincent-timeline/|title=St Vincent Genealogy Resources|website=svgancestry.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321165131/http://svgancestry.com/index.php/st-vincent-timeline|archive-date=21 March 2012}}</ref>

[[File:SaintVincent Carib Treaty Negotiation 1773.jpg|thumb|upright|Depiction of the 1773 treaty negotiations between the British and the [[Garifuna]]]]

The British captured the island and drove out the French from Barrouallie during the [[Seven Years' War]], a claim confirmed by the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]].<ref name="britannica.com"/> On taking control of the island in 1763, the British laid the foundations of [[Fort Charlotte, Saint Vincent|Fort Charlotte]] and also continued the importation of slaves to work on the island's plantations. The [[Garifuna]], an Afro-Indigenous creole people on the island, were opposed to the British presence and entered into open conflict against the British, starting the [[First Carib War]], which lasted from 1772 to 1773.<ref name="britannica.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-01 |title=The First Carib War, 1769-1773 |url=https://legacyofrevolution.wordpress.com/the-first-carib-war-1769-1773/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Water, Fire & Ash |language=en}}</ref>

During the [[Anglo-French War (1778–1783)]], the French [[French capture of Saint Vincent|recaptured St Vincent]] in 1779. However, the British regained control under the [[Treaty of Versailles (1783)]].<ref name="britannica.com"/><ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/>

=== British colonial period and Second Carib War ===
{{Main|British Windward Islands}}
The uneasy peace between the British and the Garifuna led to the [[Second Carib War]], which lasted from 1795 to 1797.<ref name="britannica.com"/> The Garifuna were led by paramount chief [[Joseph Chatoyer]] and supported by the French, notably [[Victor Hugues]] who was based on the island of [[Martinique]]. They were eventually defeated in 1797 by British forces under the command Sir [[Ralph Abercromby]]; a peace treaty agreement was made which resulted in almost 5,000 Garifuna being deported to [[Roatán]], an island off the coast of [[Honduras]], and to [[Belize]] and [[Baliceaux]] in the Grenadines.<ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/>
 
In 1806, the construction of Fort Charlotte was completed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stvincenttimes.com/st-vincents-fort-charlotte-to-undergo-extensive-restoration-upgrades/|title=St Vincent's Fort Charlotte to undergo extensive restoration, upgrades|date=5 September 2022|publisher=St Vincent Times|website=stvincenttimes.com|access-date=19 October 2022|archive-date=19 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019233118/https://www.stvincenttimes.com/st-vincents-fort-charlotte-to-undergo-extensive-restoration-upgrades/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Fort Charlotte |url=https://oecs.int/en/component/spproperty/property/64-st-vincent-and-the-grenadines-fort-charlotte?Itemid=286 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=oecs.int |language=en-gb}}</ref>

The [[La Soufrière (volcano)|La Soufrière]] volcano erupted in 1812, resulting in considerable destruction.<ref name="Pyle, David">{{cite web|url=https://blogs.egu.eu/network/volcanicdegassing/2014/01/20/a-volcanic-retrospective-eruptions-of-the-soufriere-st-vincent/|title=A volcanic retrospective: eruptions of the Soufrière, St Vincent|author=Pyle, David|date=8 May 2014|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=28 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328194001/https://blogs.egu.eu/network/volcanicdegassing/2014/01/20/a-volcanic-retrospective-eruptions-of-the-soufriere-st-vincent/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/>

[[File:Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1907-1979).svg|thumb|Colonial flag (to 1979)]]

The British [[abolitionism in the United Kingdom|abolished]] slavery in Saint Vincent (as well as in all other [[British West Indies]] colonies) in 1834, and an apprenticeship period followed which ended in 1838.<ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/><ref name="britannica.com"/> After its end, labour shortages on the plantations resulted, and were initially addressed by the immigration of indentured servants; starting from 1845, many [[Catholic Church in Portugal|Portuguese Catholic]] settlers arrived from [[Madeira]], with around 2,100 arrivals from [[Portugal]] recorded from 1845 to 1850.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A BRIEF Historical Overview of the Portuguese in St. Vincent and the Grenadines|url=https://thevincentian.com/a-brief-historical-overview-of-the-portuguese-in-st-vincent-and-the-grenad-p20809-133.htm|access-date=14 June 2024|website=thevincentian.com}}</ref> Between 1861 and 1888, a new wave of immigration occurred, with shiploads of [[Indo-Caribbeans|Indian labourers]] arrived.<ref name="britannica.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Indentured Labour |url=https://www.georgetownsvgrevisited.co.uk/indentees-who-were-they.php |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.georgetownsvgrevisited.co.uk}}</ref>

===20th century===
{{Main|West Indies Federation}}
[[File:Baking bread in the West Indies.png|thumb|Residents of Saint Vincent making ''[[casabe]]'' (casava bread) in the 1910s]]
In 1902, the [[La Soufrière (volcano)|La Soufrière]] volcano erupted again, killing 1,500–2,000 people; much farmland was damaged, and the economy deteriorated.<ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/><ref name="britannica.com"/><ref name="Pyle, David"/>

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines passed through various stages of colonial status under the British. A representative assembly was authorised in 1776, Crown Colony government was installed in 1877, a [[legislative council]] was created in 1925 with a limited franchise,<ref name="britannica.com"/> and [[Universal suffrage|universal adult suffrage]] was granted in 1951.<ref name="britannica.com"/> During the period of its control of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Britain made several attempts to unify the island with the other Windward Islands as a single entity, to simplify British control in the sub-region through a single unified administration.<ref name="britannica.com"/> In the 1960s, the British again tried to unify all of its regional islands, including Saint Vincent, into a single politically unified entity under British control. The unification was to be called the [[West Indies Federation]] and was driven by a desire to gain independence from the British government. However, the attempt collapsed in 1962.<ref name="britannica.com"/>

Saint Vincent was granted "associate statehood" status by Britain on 27 October 1969.<ref name="britannica.com"/> This gave Saint Vincent complete control over its internal affairs but fell short of full independence in law.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

In April 1979, [[La Soufrière (volcano)|La Soufrière]] erupted once more. Although no one was killed, thousands were evacuated and extensive agricultural damage occurred.<ref name="Pyle, David"/>

On 27 October 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gained full independence;<ref name="britannica.com"/><ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/> the date is now the country's [[List of national independence days|Independence Day]], a [[Public holidays in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|public holiday]].<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/> The country opted to remain within the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], retaining the then-Queen [[Elizabeth II]] as [[Monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Monarch]], represented locally by a [[Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Governor-General]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sir David Smith &quot;An Australian Head of State: An Historical and Contemporary Perspective [1]&quot;|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/~/~/link.aspx?_id=D704CA6CD1B549AF8654FDCFBA383150&_z=z|access-date=12 August 2020|website=www.aph.gov.au|language=en-AU|archive-date=11 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811144502/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/~/~/link.aspx?_id=D704CA6CD1B549AF8654FDCFBA383150&_z=z|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Post-independence era===

[[Milton Cato]] of the centre-left [[Saint Vincent Labour Party]] (SVLP) was the country's first Prime Minister (he had been Premier since 1974), ruling until his defeat in the [[1984 Vincentian general election]] by [[James Fitz-Allen Mitchell]] of the centre-right [[New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)|New Democratic Party]] (NDP).<ref name="britannica.com"/> During Cato's time in office, there was a brief rebellion on [[Union Island]] in December 1979 led by [[Lennox 'Bumba' Charles]]. Inspired by the recent revolution on Grenada, Charles alleged neglect of the Union by the central government. However, the revolt was swiftly put down and Charles was arrested.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/09/archives/st-vincent-surppresses-shortlived-rebellion-on-isle-in-grenadines.html|title=St. Vincent Suppresses Short-Lived Rebellion On Isle in Grenadines|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 December 1979|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=11 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811144704/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/09/archives/st-vincent-surppresses-shortlived-rebellion-on-isle-in-grenadines.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/our-readers-opinions/2005/12/09/union-remembers-December-7-uprising/|title=Union remembers December 7 uprising|date=9 December 2005|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418033552/https://www.searchlight.vc/searchlight/our-readers-opinions/2005/12/09/union-remembers-December-7-uprising/|url-status=live}}</ref> There were also a series of strikes in the early 1980s.<ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/> James Mitchell remained Prime Minister for 16 years until 2000, winning three consecutive [[Elections in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|elections]].<ref name="britannica.com"/> Mitchell was at the forefront of attempts to improve regional integration.<ref name="thecommonwealth.org"/> In [[Hurricane Allen|1980]] and 1987, hurricanes damaged many banana and coconut plantations. Hurricane seasons were also very active in 1998 and 1999, with [[Hurricane Lenny]] in 1999 causing extensive damage to the west coast of the island.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 2000, [[Arnhim Eustace]] became Prime Minister after taking over the leadership of the NDP following Mitchell's retirement; he was [[2001 Vincentian general election|defeated]] a year later by [[Ralph Gonsalves]] of the [[Unity Labour Party]] (successor party to the SVLP).<ref name="caribbeanelections2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/svg/past/results_2001.asp|title=Caribbean Elections &#124; St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Elections 2010|access-date=12 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006195247/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/svg/past/results_2001.asp|archive-date=6 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="britannica.com"/> Gonsalves—a left-winger known in the country as "Comrade Ralph"<ref name=BBCLeaders>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20006737 St Vincent and the Grenadines profile – Leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816061055/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20006737 |date=16 August 2022 }}, BBC News (27 November 2014).</ref><ref>Ralph E. Gonsalves, ''The Making of "The Comrade": The Political Journey of Ralph Gonsalves: an Autobiographical Sketch of a Caribbean Prime Minister'' (SFI Books, 2010).</ref>—argued that European nations owe Caribbean nations [[Reparations for slavery|reparations]] for their role in the Atlantic slave trade.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-caribbean-slavery/caribbean-nations-consider-push-for-slavery-reparations-idUSBREA2525520140306|title=Caribbean nations consider push for slavery reparations|newspaper=Reuters|date=6 March 2014|access-date=7 July 2019|last1=Torres|first1=Aileen|archive-date=11 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811144505/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-caribbean-slavery/caribbean-nations-consider-push-for-slavery-reparations-idUSBREA2525520140306|url-status=live}}</ref> Gonsalves won a second term in 2005,<ref name=BBCLeaders/> a third in 2010,<ref name=BBCLeaders/> and a fourth in 2015.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20006734 St Vincent and the Grenadines country profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816061054/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20006734 |date=16 August 2022 }}, BBC News (31 May 2018).</ref>

In 2009, [[Vincentian constitutional referendum, 2009|a referendum was held on a proposal to adopt a new constitution]] that would make the country a [[republic]], replacing Queen [[Elizabeth II]] as head of state with a non-executive President, a proposal supported by Prime Minister Gonsalves. A two-thirds majority was required, but the referendum was defeated 29,019 votes (55.64 per cent) to 22,493 (43.13 per cent).<ref name="antillean">{{cite web|url=http://www.antillean.org/2009/11/26/constitutional-reform-referendum-defeated-in-st-vincent-the-grenadines/|title=Constitutional reform referendum defeated in St Vincent & the Grenadines|website=Antillean|date=26 November 2009|access-date=16 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218004358/http://www.antillean.org/2009/11/26/constitutional-reform-referendum-defeated-in-st-vincent-the-grenadines/|archive-date=18 February 2010}}</ref><ref name="britannica.com"/>

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was elected as a non-permanent member of the [[United Nations Security Council]] 2020–21.

In November 2020, Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 2001, made history by securing the fifth consecutive victory of his [[Unity Labour Party]] (ULP) in general election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ralph romps to fifth straight election win in St Vincent and the Grenadines|url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/caribbean/20201106/ralph-romps-fifth-straight-election-win-st-vincent-and-grenadines|work=jamaica-gleaner.com|date=6 November 2020|language=en|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=17 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217140206/https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/caribbean/20201106/ralph-romps-fifth-straight-election-win-st-vincent-and-grenadines|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2021, on 9 April, the [[2021 eruption of La Soufrière|La Soufrière]] volcano erupted, sending ash several miles into the atmosphere. Approximately 16,000 people were evacuated in the days leading up to the eruption.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/st-vincent-evacuate-thousands-under-volcano-threat-n1263597|title=Explosive eruption rocks volcano on Caribbean's St. Vincent|website=NBC News|date=9 April 2021|access-date=9 April 2021|archive-date=22 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522125653/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/st-vincent-evacuate-thousands-under-volcano-threat-n1263597|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
[[File:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg|thumb|A map of [[Saint Vincent Island|Saint Vincent]] and the [[Grenadines]]]]

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies to the west of [[Barbados]], south of [[Saint Lucia]] and north of [[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 (island)|Saint Vincent]] {{convert|344|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and the northern two-thirds of the [[Grenadines]] {{convert|45|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, which are a chain of smaller islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada. 

There are 32 islands and [[cay]]s that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Nine are inhabited, including the mainland St Vincent and the Grenadines islands: Young Island, [[Bequia]], [[Mustique]], [[Canouan]], [[Union Island]], [[Mayreau]], Petit St Vincent and Palm Island. Prominent uninhabited islands of the Grenadines include [[Petit Nevis]], used by [[Whaling|whalers]], and [[Petite Mustique|Petit Mustique]], which was the centre of a prominent real-estate scam in the early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lecho.be/economie-politique/belgique/economie/l-enfer-d-une-societe-belge-au-paradis-terrestre/10057158.html|title=L'enfer d'une société belge au paradis terrestre|last=Balboni|first=Julien|date=10 October 2018|website=L'Echo|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145529/https://www.lecho.be/economie-politique/belgique/economie/l-enfer-d-une-societe-belge-au-paradis-terrestre/10057158.html|archive-date=8 January 2019|access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref>

The capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is [[Kingstown]], Saint Vincent.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/> The main island of Saint Vincent measures {{convert|26|km|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} in width and {{convert|344|km2|abbr=on}} in area. From the most northern to the most southern points, the Grenadine islands belonging to Saint Vincent span {{convert|60.4|km|abbr=on}}, with a combined area of {{convert|45|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=North America - Grassland, desert, and tundra soils {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America/Grassland-desert-and-tundra-soils|access-date=19 June 2022|website=www.britannica.com|language=en|archive-date=11 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811101254/https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America/Grassland-desert-and-tundra-soils|url-status=live}}</ref>

The island of Saint Vincent is volcanic and heavily forested and includes little level ground.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/> The windward side of the island is very rocky and steep, while the leeward side has more sandy beaches and bays.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} Saint Vincent's highest peak is [[La Soufrière (volcano)|La Soufrière]] volcano at {{convert|1234|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/> Other major mountains on St Vincent are (from north to south) Richmond Peak, [[Mount Brisbane]], Colonarie Mountain, [[Grand Bonhomme]], Petit Bonhomme and Mount St Andrew.<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 April 2017|title=Largest Islands In Saint Vincent And The Grenadines|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/largest-islands-in-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines.html|access-date=19 June 2022|website=WorldAtlas|language=en-US|archive-date=19 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619140927/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/largest-islands-in-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The country is home to two terrestrial [[ecoregion]]s: [[Windward Islands moist forests]] and the [[Lesser Antillean dry forests]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|display-authors=1|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}}</ref> It had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 6.95/10, ranking it 61st globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Most of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies within the [[Main Development Region]] for Atlantic [[tropical cyclone]]s. Recently, in 2023, the islands were directly impacted by [[2023 Atlantic hurricane season#Tropical Storm Bret|Tropical Storm Bret]].<ref>{{cite web|date=24 June 2023|title=Tropical Storm Bret – Final Situation Report (As of 5:00 PM on June 23, 2023)|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/saint-lucia/tropical-storm-bret-final-situation-report-500-pm-june-23-2023|access-date=27 June 2024|publisher=[[Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency]]|via=[[ReliefWeb]]}}</ref>

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| perrow            = 
| direction         = 
| total_width       = 500
| header            = Main office-holders
| footer            = 
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = King Charles III (July 2023).jpg
| width1            = 
| caption1          = The [[King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]:<br />'''[[Charles III]]'''<br />since<br />{{nowrap|8 September 2022}}
| image2            = Susan Dougan 2019.jpg
| width2            = 
| caption2          = The [[Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]:<br />'''[[Susan Dougan|Dame Susan Dougan]]'''<br />since<br />{{nowrap|1 August 2019}}
| image3            = Ralph Gonsalves 2023.jpg
| width3            = 
| caption3          = The [[Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]:<br />'''[[Ralph Gonsalves]]'''<br />since<br />{{nowrap|28 March 2001}}
}}

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and [[Commonwealth realm|constitutional monarchy]], with [[Charles III]] as [[King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]].<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/> He does not reside in the islands and is represented as [[head of state]] in the country by the [[Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], currently [[Susan Dougan]] (since 1 August 2019).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/breaking-news/2019/08/01/svgs-first-female-head-of-state-sworn-in/|title=SVG's First Female Head of State Sworn In|website=Searchlight.vc|date=1 August 2019|access-date=23 August 2019|archive-date=1 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801174006/https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/breaking-news/2019/08/01/svgs-first-female-head-of-state-sworn-in/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The office of Governor-General has mostly ceremonial functions including the opening of the islands' [[House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|House of Assembly]] and the appointment of various government officials. Control of the government rests with the elected [[List of prime ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Prime Minister]] and their cabinet. The current Prime Minister is [[Ralph Gonsalves]], elected in 2001 as head of the [[Unity Labour Party]].<ref>[http://www.caribbeanelections.com/svg/candidates/ulp/ralph_gonsalves.asp Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006195237/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/svg/candidates/ulp/ralph_gonsalves.asp |date=6 October 2011 }}, caribbeanelections.com; accessed 1 September 2014.</ref>

The legislative branch of government is the unicameral [[House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], seating 15 elected members representing single-member [[electoral district|constituencies]] and six appointed members known as Senators. The parliamentary term of office is five years, although the Prime Minister may call elections at any time.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/>

The judicial branch of government is divided into district courts, the [[Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court]] and the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] in London being the court of last resort.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/>

=== Political culture ===
The two political parties with parliamentary representation are the [[New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)|New Democratic Party]] (NDP) and the [[Unity Labour Party]] (ULP). The parliamentary opposition is made up of the largest minority stakeholder in the general elections, headed by the [[Leader of the Opposition (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)|Leader of the Opposition]]. The current opposition leader is [[Godwin Friday]].<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/>

=== Military ===
{{Further|Military of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}

Saint Vincent has no formal armed forces, although the [[Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force]] includes a Special Service Unit as well as a militia that has a supporting role on the island.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Special Services Unit (SSU) Overview|url=http://rsvgpf.gov.vc/rsvgpf/index.php/department/ssu|access-date=10 April 2021|website=rsvgpf.gov.vc|language=en-GB|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407145048/http://rsvgpf.gov.vc/rsvgpf/index.php/department/ssu|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2019|title=Food safety and quality: Country page|url=http://www.fao.org/food/food-safety-quality/gm-foods-platform/browse-information-by/country/country-page/en/?cty=VCT|access-date=10 April 2021|website=www.fao.org|archive-date=11 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811151945/https://www.fao.org/food/food-safety-quality/gm-foods-platform/browse-information-by/country/country-page/en/?cty=VCT|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Saint Vincent signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en|title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection|date=7 July 2017|access-date=17 August 2019|archive-date=6 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
{{stack|[[Image:SVG Parishes.png|right|189px|Map of the Parishes of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]}}Administratively, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is divided into six [[parish (country subdivision)|parishes]]. Five parishes are on Saint Vincent, while the sixth, Grenadines Parish, is made up of the northern two-thirds of the [[Grenadines|Grenadine islands]]. [[Kingstown]] is located in the Parish of Saint George and is the capital city and central administrative centre of the country.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/>

For census purposes, however, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is divided into thirteen census divisions, eleven of which are on Saint Vincent, and the other two comprising the Grenadines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stats.gov.vc/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2012-Housing-and-Population-Census-Report-final-draft-4.pdf|title=St. Vincent and the Grenadines Population and Housing Census Report 2012|publisher=Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|access-date=12 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Parish
! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! Population (2000)
! Capital
|-
|[[Charlotte Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Charlotte Parish]]
|149
|38,000
|[[Georgetown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Georgetown]]
|-
|[[Grenadines Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Grenadines Parish]]
|43
|9,200
|[[Port Elizabeth, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Port Elizabeth]]
|-
|[[Saint Andrew Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Saint Andrew Parish]]
|29
|6,700
|[[Layou]]
|-
|[[Saint David Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Saint David Parish]]
|80
|6,700
|[[Chateaubelair]]
|-
|[[Saint George Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Saint George Parish]]
|52
|51,400
|[[Kingstown]]
|-
|[[Saint Patrick Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Saint Patrick Parish]]
|37
|5,800
|[[Barrouallie]]
|}

===LGBT rights===
{{main|LGBT rights in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
"Acts of gross indecency", which may be defined to include [[homosexual activity]], are illegal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.<ref>{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Avery|title=71 Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal|url=https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974|work=Newsweek|date=4 April 2019|access-date=17 August 2019|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211204842/https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974|url-status=live}}</ref> Section 148 of the Criminal Code states:
<blockquote>
Any person, who in public or private, commits an act of gross indecency with another person of the same sex, or procures or attempts to procure another person of the same sex to commit an act of gross indecency with him or her, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country%2C%2C%2C%2CVCT%2C4562d94e2%2C4b20f0422%2C0.html|title=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Situation and treatment of homosexuals; legislation; availability of state protection and support services (2007 – September 2009)|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|work=Refworld|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728143803/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,,VCT,4562d94e2,4b20f0422,0.html|archive-date=28 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Further|Foreign relations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}

===International and regional relationships===
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines maintains close ties to [[Canada]], the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States|US]], and cooperates with regional political and economic organisations such as the [[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]] (OECS) and [[CARICOM]].<ref name="ird.gov.tt">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.ird.gov.tt/Media/Default/IRDTreaties/DTT-Caricom--1994.pdf|title=The Double Taxation Relief (Caricom) Order|journal=Legal Supplement|volume=33|number=273|date=28 December 1994|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=7 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507154606/http://ird.gov.tt/Media/Default/IRDTreaties/DTT-Caricom--1994.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The island nation's sixth embassy overseas was opened on 8 August 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan, after Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves's official visit to the [[Taiwan|Republic of China (Taiwan)]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.searchlight.vc/front-page/2019/08/09/svg-opens-embassy-in-taiwan/|title=SVG opens Embassy in Taiwan|website=searchlight.vc|date=9 August 2019|access-date=27 January 2025|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205194415/https://www.searchlight.vc/front-page/2019/08/09/svg-opens-embassy-in-taiwan/|url-status=live}}</ref> the other five are located in London (a High Commission as Commonwealth countries have high commissions rather than embassies in each other's countries), Washington D.C., Havana, Caracas and Brussels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreign.gov.vc/foreign/images/stories/DiplomaticRelations/Updated_Diplomatic_List_Revised-as_at_February_2020_1_1.pdf#page=77|title=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Diplomatic and Consulate List|website=foreign.gov.vc|date=February 2020|pages=75–78, 81|access-date=26 January 2025|archive-date=4 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204134641/https://foreign.gov.vc/foreign/images/stories/DiplomaticRelations/Updated_Diplomatic_List_Revised-as_at_February_2020_1_1.pdf#page=77|url-status=live}}</ref>

====The Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty====
{{Overly detailed|section|details=|date=December 2021}}
On 6 July 1994 at Sherbourne Conference Centre, St Michael, Barbados, as a representative of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then (James Mitchell, who was subsequently knighted) signed the [[Tax treaty|Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaties]].<ref name="ird.gov.tt"/> There were seven other signatories to the agreement on that day. The countries which were represented were Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.<ref name="JIS">{{cite web|title=No Double Taxation on Earnings Under CSME|url=https://jis.gov.jm/no-double-taxation-on-earnings-under-csme/|website=Jamaica Information Service|access-date=8 December 2021|date=12 October 2005|archive-date=31 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531161611/https://jis.gov.jm/no-double-taxation-on-earnings-under-csme/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

An eighth country signed the agreement on 19 August 2016, Guyana.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

This treaty covered taxes, residence, tax jurisdictions, capital gains, business profits, interest, dividends, royalties and other areas.<ref name="ird.gov.tt"/>

====FATCA====
On 30 June 2014, St. Vincent and the Grenadines signed a Model 1 agreement with the United States of America with respect to Foreign Account Tax Compliance (Act) or FATCA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx|title=Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)|website=Treasury.gov|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-date=13 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113122755/https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the updated site as of 16 January 2017, on 13 May 2016 the agreement went to "In Force" status.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

====International and regional bodies to which Saint Vincent and the Grenadines belong====
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the [[United Nations]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the [[Organization of American States]], and the [[Association of Caribbean States]] (ACS).

In September 2017, at the [[Seventy-second session of the United Nations General Assembly|72nd Session of the UN General Assembly]], the Prime Ministers of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines called for UN action on alleged human rights abuses committed by [[Indonesia]] on [[Western New Guinea]]'s [[Indigenous people of New Guinea|indigenous Papuans]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Fiery debate over West Papua at UN General Assembly|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201860156/fiery-debate-over-west-papua-at-un-general-assembly|work=Radio New Zealand 2017|date=27 September 2017|access-date=7 August 2019|archive-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001165326/http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201860156/fiery-debate-over-west-papua-at-un-general-assembly|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[2019 United Nations Security Council election|2019]], Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the smallest country to ever be elected to the [[UN Security Council]].

====Organisation of American States====
St Vincent and the Grenadines joined the [[Organisation of American States]] on 27 October 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/en/member_states/member_state.asp?sCode=STV|title=Member State: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|date=1 August 2009|website=Organization of American States|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-date=25 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925094920/http://www.oas.org/en/member_states/member_state.asp?sCode=STV|url-status=live}}</ref> It participates in the [[Summits of the Americas]] and the [[Indigenous Leaders Summits of Americas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seventh Summit of the Americas |url=http://www.summit-americas.org/vii/heads_en.htm |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=www.summit-americas.org}}</ref>

In June 2022, St Vincent and the Grenadines boycotted the [[9th Summit of the Americas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Sherrylyn |date=2022-06-03 |title=St Vincent to boycott Summit of the Americas |url=https://nationnews.com/2022/06/03/st-vincent-boycott-summit-americas/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=nationnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

===European nations===
In 2013, Saint Vincent called for European nations to pay reparations for the [[Slavery|slave trade]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=14 Caribbean nations sue European countries for slavery reparations|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/27/14-caribbean-nationssueeuropeancountriesforreparationsoverslaver.html|access-date=10 March 2021|website=america.aljazeera.com|archive-date=13 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313145002/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/27/14-caribbean-nationssueeuropeancountriesforreparationsoverslaver.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon a visit in April 2022, the British [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|Duke]] and [[Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh|Duchess of Edinburgh]] were confronted with protesters calling for reparations for Britain's participation in the slave trade. Among the protesters was Jomo Thomas, former chair of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Reparations Committee, who called for reparations from the former colonial power.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Das|first1=Shanti|last2=Chance|first2=Kenton|date=23 April 2022|title=Slavery protesters target royal tour in St Vincent|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/23/slavery-protesters-target-royal-tour-in-st-vincent|access-date=18 January 2024|work=The Observer|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=26 April 2022|title=The Backlash to Prince Edward and Sophie's Caribbean Royal Tour Grows|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a39825358/prince-edward-sophie-caribbean-royal-tour-2022-backlash/|access-date=18 January 2024|website=Town & Country|language=en-US|archive-date=18 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118210604/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a39825358/prince-edward-sophie-caribbean-royal-tour-2022-backlash/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Venezuela ===
Saint Vincent protests against [[Venezuela]]'s claim to give full effect to [[Aves (Bird) Island]], which creates a Venezuelan [[EEZ]]/[[continental shelf]] extending over a large portion of the [[Caribbean Sea]].<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
[[File:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines electricity production.svg|thumb|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines electricity production by source]]
[[File:St. Vincent, Karibik - Kingstown - Looking north from Fort Charlotte - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Campden Park, St. Vincent]]
Agriculture, dominated by [[banana]] production, is the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and the [[unemployment rate]] remains high at 19.8% in the 1991 census<ref name="popin">{{cite web|title=Statement of St Vincent & the Grenadines|url=https://www.un.org/popin/icpd/conference/gov/940912160112.html|website=United Nations Population Information Network|date=9 September 1994|access-date=16 December 2011|archive-date=14 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314092248/http://www.un.org/popin/icpd/conference/gov/940912160112.html|url-status=live}}</ref> to 15% in 2001.<ref name="cia"/> The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development as tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of bananas in many years.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

There is a small manufacturing sector and a small offshore financial sector serving international businesses; its secrecy laws have caused some international concern. There are increasing demands for international financial services like stock exchange and financial intermediaries financial activities in the country. In addition, the natives of [[Bequia]] are permitted to hunt up to four [[humpback whale]]s per year under [[International Whaling Commission|IWC]] subsistence quotas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bequia|url=https://iwc.int/management-and-conservation/whaling/aboriginal/bequia|access-date=26 June 2022|website=iwc.int|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609084222/https://iwc.int/management-and-conservation/whaling/aboriginal/bequia|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Tourism ===
The tourism sector has considerable potential for development. The filming of the ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean films|Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' movies on the island has helped to expose the country to more potential visitors and investors. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism.<ref name="sids">{{cite web|title=Report to the Regional Consultation on SIDS Specific Issues|url=http://www.pnuma.org/sids_ing/documents/National%20Reports/St.%20Vincent%20National%20Report.pdf|date=October 2003|website=United Nations Environment Program|first=Lystra|last=Culzac-Wilson|access-date=16 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111085338/http://www.pnuma.org/sids_ing/documents/National%20Reports/St.%20Vincent%20National%20Report.pdf|archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref>

=== Transportation ===
[[Argyle International Airport]] is the country's new international airport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Argyle International Airport, St Vincent & the Grenadines|url=http://www.caribbeanconstruction.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=373&Itemid=2|work=caribbeanconstruction.com|access-date=3 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235235/http://www.caribbeanconstruction.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=373&Itemid=2|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The new facility opened on 14 February 2017,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://antiguaobserver.com/argyle-international-airport-to-open-february-14/|title=Argyle International Airport to open February 14|date=29 December 2016|newspaper=Antigua Observer Newspaper|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104232823/http://antiguaobserver.com/argyle-international-airport-to-open-february-14/|url-status=dead}}</ref> replacing the existing [[E.T. Joshua Airport]]. The airport is on the island's east coast about 8.3&nbsp;km (5.17 miles) from Kingstown.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

===Communications===
{{main|Telecommunications in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
In 2010, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had 21,700 telephone land lines. Its land telephone system is fully automatic, covering the entire island and all of the inhabited Grenadine islands.<ref name="cia">{{cite web|title=The World Fact Book|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/|date=10 November 2011|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=16 December 2011|archive-date=12 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812031210/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2002, there were 10,000 mobile phones.<ref name="about">{{cite web|title=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|url=http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcstvincent.htm|date=1 November 2005|publisher=About.com|access-date=16 December 2011|archive-date=13 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113020348/http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcstvincent.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2010, this number had increased to 131,800.<ref name="cia"/> Mobile phone service is available in most areas of Saint Vincent as well as the Grenadines.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 March 2023|title=Saint Vincent & the Grenadines: 2 Best Prepaid SIM Cards Buying Guide (2023)|url=https://www.phonetravelwiz.com/buying-a-sim-card-in-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines-guide/|access-date=22 March 2023|website=Phone Travel Wiz|language=en-US|archive-date=22 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322135217/https://www.phonetravelwiz.com/buying-a-sim-card-in-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines-guide/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Saint Vincent has two ISPs ([[Digicel]], [[Flow (brand)|Flow]]) that provide cellular telephone and internet service.<ref name="tourism">{{cite web|title=About SVG: Essentials|url=http://www.discoversvg.com/index.php/en/about-svg/essentials?start=5|website=SVG Tourism Authority|access-date=16 December 2011|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807012602/http://www.discoversvg.com/index.php/en/about-svg/essentials?start=5|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
The population as estimated in {{UN_Population|Year}} was {{UN_Population|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}.{{UN_Population|ref}} The ethnic composition was 66% [[Afro-Vincentians|African descent]], 19% of mixed descent, 6% East Indian, 4% [[White Caribbeans|Europeans]] (mainly Portuguese), 2% [[Kalinago]] and 3% others.<ref name="CIA World Factbook – St Vincent"/> Most Vincentians are the descendants of West-Central African people brought to the island to work on [[plantation]]s. There are other ethnic groups, such as [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] (from [[Madeira]]) and [[Indo-Vincentian|East Indians]], both brought in to work on the plantations after the abolishing of slavery by the British living on the island. There is also a growing Chinese population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://svg-un.org/who-we-are#:~:text=In%20the%20mid-17th,slowly%20became%20one%3A%20the%20Garifuna.|title=WHO WE ARE|publisher=Permanent Mission of St Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations|website=svg-un.org|access-date=19 October 2022|archive-date=19 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019235909/http://svg-un.org/who-we-are#:~:text=In%20the%20mid-17th,slowly%20became%20one%3A%20the%20Garifuna.|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===Languages===
{{Main|Vincentian Creole}}

English is the official language. Most Vincentians speak Vincentian Creole.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/language/svc|title=Vincentian Creole English|website=Ethnologue|date=19 February 1999|access-date=29 April 2014|archive-date=9 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309074433/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/svc/|url-status=live}}</ref> English is used in education, government, religion, and other formal domains, while Creole (or 'dialect' as it is referred to locally) is used in informal situations, such as in the home and among friends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sil.org/resources/publications/entry/43481|title=The Classification of the English-Lexifier Creole Languages Spoken in Grenada, Guyana, St Vincent, and Tobago Using a Comparison of the Markers of Some Key Grammatical Features|website=SIL International|access-date=29 April 2014|archive-date=19 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719002547/https://www.sil.org/resources/publications/entry/43481|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Religion===
[[File:St. Vincent, Karibik - St. Mary's R.C. School ^ St. Mary's R.C. Cathedral - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Assumption Cathedral, Kingstown|Assumption Cathedral]], Kingstown]] 
According to the 2001 census, 81.5% of the population of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines identified themselves as [[Christianity|Christian]], 6.7% had a different religion and 8.8% had no religion, or did not state one (1.5%).<ref name="2001 census">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.vc/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=jSipdTnsXwM%3d&tabid=60|title=Population and housing census report 2001|website=stats.gov.vc|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911195540/http://www.stats.gov.vc/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=jSipdTnsXwM%3D&tabid=60|archive-date=11 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Anglicanism]] constitutes the largest religious category, adhered to by 17.8% of the population. [[Pentecostals]] are the second largest group (17.6%). The next largest group are [[Methodists#Caribbean|Methodists]] (10.9% of the population), followed by [[Seventh-day Adventists]] (10.2%) and [[Baptists]] (10.0%). Other Christians include [[Roman Catholics]] (7.5%), [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicals]] (2.8%), Church of God (2.5%), [[Brethren Christian]] (1.3%), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (0.6%) and the [[Salvation Army]] (0.3%).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sen Nag|first=Oishimaya|date=13 November 2018|title=Religious Beliefs In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-in-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines.html|website=World Atlas|access-date=27 October 2020|archive-date=19 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619140936/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-in-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 1991 and 2001 the number of Anglicans, Brethren, Methodists and Roman Catholics decreased, while the number of Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Seventh-day Adventists increased.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by Religious Denomination and Sex, 1980 to 2012 |url=https://stats.gov.vc/subjects/population-and-demography/population-by-religious-denomination-and-sex-1980-to-2012/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Statistical Office, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |language=en-US}}</ref>

The number of non-Christians is small. These religious groups include the [[Rastafari movement|Rastafari]] (1.5% of the population), [[Hinduism in the West Indies|Hindus]] and [[Muslims]] (1.5%).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pewforum.org/uploadedfiles/Topics/Demographics/Muslimpopulation.pdf|title=Archived copy|access-date=27 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810075151/http://pewforum.org/uploadedfiles/Topics/Demographics/Muslimpopulation.pdf|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[File:Mustiquebeaches.jpg|thumb|The island of [[Mustique]] in the [[Grenadines]]]]

===Sport===
{{See also|Cricket in the West Indies}}
<!-- mention something abt cricket here? -->
[[Cricket]], [[association football]], and athletics are most popular among men whereas [[netball]] is most popular among women. Basketball, volleyball, rugby and tennis are also very popular.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitsvg.com/discover/sports.html|title=Visit St Vincent & the Grenadines – Sport|website=visitsvg.com|access-date=28 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919002957/http://www.visitsvg.com/discover/sports.html|archive-date=19 September 2015}}</ref>

The country's prime [[association football|football]] league is the [[NLA Premier League]], which provides its [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|national (association) football team]] with most players. A notable Vincentian footballer is [[Ezra Hendrickson]], former national team captain who played at several Major League Soccer clubs in the United States and was head coach with the [[Chicago Fire FC]] from 2021–23.<ref name="fire">{{cite web|title=Chicago Fire FC Names Ezra Hendrickson Head Coach|url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-names-ezra-hendrickson-head-coach|website=Chicago Fire FC|access-date=24 November 2021|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124151030/https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-names-ezra-hendrickson-head-coach|url-status=live}}</ref>

The country regularly participates at the [[Caribbean Basketball Championship]] where a [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national basketball team|men's team]] and a [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines women's national basketball team|women's team]] compete. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines also has its own [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national rugby union team|national rugby union team]] which is ranked 84th in the world. Other notable sports played at the regional level include track and field. Natasha Mayers won a gold medal in the [[100m]] at the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Natasha Mayers of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be moved up to gold|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-oludamola-stripped-of-gold-2nd-nigerian-fails-2010oct12-story.html|access-date=14 February 2022|work=sandiegouniontribune.com|archive-date=7 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407155457/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-oludamola-stripped-of-gold-2nd-nigerian-fails-2010oct12-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kineke Alexander]] won a bronze medal in the women's [400m] at the [[2015 Pan American Games]].<ref>{{cite news|title=SVG's Kineke Alexander takes Pan Am Games 400 metres bronze|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2015/07/24/svgs-kineke-alexander-takes-pan-am-games-400-metres-bronze/|access-date=14 February 2022|publisher=iwnsvg.com|archive-date=5 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605195952/https://www.iwnsvg.com/2015/07/24/svgs-kineke-alexander-takes-pan-am-games-400-metres-bronze/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Eswort Coombs]] got a bronze medal in the 400m at the [[1995 Pan American Games]].

At the Olympics Games France 2024, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had two athletes, Shafiqua Maloney and Handal Roban.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Handal Roban Selected to Compete at 2024 Paris Olympics|url=https://gopsusports.com/news/2024/07/11/handal-roban-selected-to-compete-at-2024-paris-olympics|access-date=16 August 2024|website=gopsusports.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Maloney became the first Vincentian athlete to reach the final stage of an Olympic event<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Duncan|first1=Natricia|last2=McTair|first2=Demion|date=9 August 2024|title='An exceptional moment': Olympian Shafiqua Maloney sparks pride in St Vincent and the Grenadines|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/09/shafiqua-maloney-olympics-st-vincent-grenadines|access-date=16 August 2024|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> when she placed 4th in the women's 800m.

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
Music popular in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines includes big drum, [[Calypso music|calypso]], [[Soca music|soca]], [[steelpan]] and [[reggae]]. String band music, quadrille and traditional storytelling are also popular. One of the most successful St Vincent natives is [[Kevin Lyttle]]. He was named Cultural Ambassador for the Island 19 September 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islandmix.com/backchat/showthread.php?p=4469536|title=Kevin Lyttle, "Skinny Fabulous," n "Fireman Hooper" Are Named Cultural Ambassadors|website=Islandmix.com|date=19 September 2013|access-date=29 April 2014|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429200707/http://www.islandmix.com/backchat/showthread.php?p=4469536|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The national anthem of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is "[[Saint Vincent, Land so beautiful]]", adopted upon independence in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - National Anthem Art|url=https://nationalanthemart.com/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines|website=National Anthem Art|access-date=8 September 2023|archive-date=3 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003213540/https://nationalanthemart.com/Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Media ===
{{See also|List of newspapers in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
Saint Vincent has twelve FM radio stations: 88.9 Adoration Fm,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adorationfmsvg.com/|title=Contemporary Christian Radio Station|website=Adoration FM SVG|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-date=22 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622040625/https://www.adorationfmsvg.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> 89.1 Jem Radio, 89.7 NBC Radio, 95.7 and 105.7 [[Praise FM (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)|Praise FM]], 96.7 Nice Radio, 97.1 Hot 97, 98.3 Star FM, 99.9 We FM, 103.7 Hitz, 102.7 EZee radio, 104.3 Xtreme FM and 106.9 Boom FM. There are several Internet radio stations including Chronicles Christian Radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccradio.co/about.html|title=About Caribbean Christian Radio Online|website=Chronicles Christian Radio|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831040127/http://www.ccradio.co/about.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It has one television broadcast station ZBG-TV (SVGTV)<ref name="svgtv">{{cite web|title=SVGTV|url=http://www.svgbc.com/svgtv.htm|website=St Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation Ltd.|access-date=16 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108101920/http://www.svgbc.com/svgtv.htm|archive-date=8 January 2012}}</ref> and one cable television provider.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation is the parent company for SVGTV, Magic 103.7.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Saint Vincent & The Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation Website|url=https://www.svgbc.com/|website=SVGBC|access-date=18 March 2020|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809080446/https://www.svgbc.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Holidays ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Public holidays of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<ref>{{Cite web|title=St Vincent and the Grenadines public holidays|url=https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/caribbean/st-vincent-and-the-grenadines/public-holidays/|access-date=13 October 2021|website=World Travel Guide|language=en-US|archive-date=7 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407155458/https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/caribbean/st-vincent-and-the-grenadines/public-holidays/|url-status=live}}</ref>
!Date
!Name in English
|-
|1 January
|New Year's Day
|-
|14 March
|National Heroes' Day
|-
|15 April
|Good Friday
|-
|18 April
|Easter Monday
|-
|1 May
|Labour Day
|-
|6 June
|Whit Monday
|-
|8 July
|Carnival Monday
|-
|1 August
|Emancipation Day
|-
|27 October
|Independence Day
|-
|25 December
|Christmas Day
|-
|26 December
|Boxing Day
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Caribbean|Islands}}
*[[Outline of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
*[[List of long place names]]
*[[Index of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-related articles]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* Bobrow, Jill & Jinkins, Dana. 1985. ''St. Vincent and the Grenadines''. 4th Edition Revised and Updated, Concepts Publishing Co., Waitsfield, Vermont, 1993.
* Cosover, Mary Jo. 1989. "St. Vincent and the Grenadines." In ''Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean: A Regional Study'', edited by Sandra W. Meditz and Dennis M. Hanratty. US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/ CIA Factbook entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812031210/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/ |date=12 August 2022 }}
* Gonsalves, Ralph E. 1994. ''History and the Future: A Caribbean Perspective''. Quik-Print, Kingstown, St Vincent.
* [https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2345.htm US Dept of State Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525203721/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2345.htm |date=25 May 2019 }}
* Williams, Eric. 1964. ''British Historians and the West Indies'', Port-of-Spain.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
; Government
* {{Official website|http://www.gov.vc}}
* [http://www.pmoffice.gov.vc/ Website of the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091026201651/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-a/afghanistan.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]
; General information
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090423081159/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/saintvincent.htm Saint Vincent and the Grenadines] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1210689.stm St Vincent and the Grenadines] from the [[BBC News]]
* {{Wikiatlas|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=VC Key Development Forecasts for St Vincent and the Grenadines] from [[International Futures]]
* [https://www.ceintelligence.com/files/documents/2014-St.-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines-Private-Sector-Assessment-Report.pdf Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Private Sector Assessment Report]
{{Saint Vincent and the Grenadines topics}}
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