Population and Demographics

The small population of Saint Lucia is of mostly African descent (upwards of 90% of the population). There is also a small but economically significant mulatto minority representing approximately 5%; with an Indo-Caribbean minority of some 3%. Just 1.1% are of pure European origin (descendants of French, British, Scottish, and Irish colonists). Rounding out the population are small numbers of Lebanese and Syrians. The official language of the country is English, but a patois based mainly on French (Antillean Creole) is also spoken.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 170,649
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 29.4% (male 25,869/female 24,248)
  • 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 55,115/female 56,641)
  • 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 3,200/female 5,576)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 25.6 years
  • Male: 24.8 years
  • Female: 26.5 years
• Population Growth Rate: 1.297%
• Birth Rate: 19.28 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 5.03 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: -1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.067 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 0.973 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.574 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 0.974 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 13.93 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 11.62 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 74.08 years
  • Male: 70.53 years
  • Female: 77.88 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 2.15 children born/woman
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Black 90%
  • Mixed 6%
  • East Indian 3%
  • White 1%
• Religions:
  • Roman Catholic 67.5%
  • Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%
  • Pentecostal 5.7%
  • Rastafarian 2.1%
  • Anglican 2%
  • Evangelical 2%
  • Other Christian 5.1%
  • Other 1.1%
  • Unspecified 1.5%
  • None 4.5%
• Languages:
  • English (official)
  • French patois
• Literacy:
  (Definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school)
  • Total population: 90.1%
  • Male: 89.5%
  • Female: 90.6%