Location Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates 13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references Central America and the Caribbean

Area
total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
land: 389 sq km

Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 84 km

Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources hydropower, cropland

Land use
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
other: 72% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 10 sq km (1998 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, Environmental Modification, 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; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

NOTE: The information regarding Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.