Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of
Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment—current 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
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People
Population: 120,519 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 18,160; female 17,524)
15-64 years: 65% (male 39,448; female 38,672)
65 years and over: 5% (male 2,762; female 3,953) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)