Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

General Information:

Location: Eastern Caribbean Sea (Lesser Antilles)
Capital: Kingstown
Language(s): English, Creole
Total Area: 389 sq km
Population: 110,211
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Curious Alcohol Fact: Rum is the most popular drink and you will be offered.
Annual Average Liquor Consumption Per Capita: 5.44 liters
Most Popular Drink(s): Rum, sea moss.

Saint Vincent & the Grenadines Travel Video

Video Courtesy: CountryBrand

The Country

Located in the eastern portion of the Caribbean Sea as part of the Lesser Antilles (West Indies), this island nation is made up of the island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadine Islands. These islands (also called the Grenadines) lie to the north and is an archipelago of about 600 islands which is part of the larger Windward Islands group. Some of the largest of the Grenadines include Mayreau, Mustique, Union, Beqouia and Canouan. Saint Vincent lies to the west of Barbados (where Rihanna comes from) and to the southwest of Saint Lucia. The whole archipelago lies to the north of Grenada. Kingstown is the capital city and the major port. It should not be confused with Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.

The People

A vast majority of the islanders descended from Black slaves brought from Africa during the era of the Slave Trade to work on the plantations. Apart from the black-skinned residents, there are other ethnic groups in the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and these include those with mixed heritage, native Indians and migrants from Europe. The most widely spoken language is English and there is also a Creole-type language developed from English. Christianity is the major religion in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with the largest denominations being the Methodists and the Anglicans. Others religious groups include the followers of Hinduism, Islam and spiritism. Many of the islanders are involved in agriculture and tourism which also happen to be some of the most important contributors to the economy.

Eating and Drinking

If you are a lover of food like this writer, this is the place for you. The pilau is a popular dish made from rice, pigeon peas, seafood and spices. You may also be lucky enough to taste porpoise soup during your stay. Rum is the most popular drink.

Interesting Facts

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the smallest members of the Commonwealth.

On Saint Vincent, there is an active volcano called La Soufrière which should not be confused with the active Soufrière Hills on Montserrat.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is home to some of the finest sand beaches and coral reefs in the world.
Located in the capital city of Kingstown is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
The resplendent Saint Vincent parrot is the national bird.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was once a thriving center for slave trade.
Hairuna (meaning the Land of the Blessed) is the indigenous name of Saint Vincent.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the largest producers of arrowroot in the world.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is located where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has one of the highest population densities in the region.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation found in the Lesser Antilles chain of islands.
Unfortunately, a significant portion of the island nation lies within what scientists have called the Hurricane Belt.
To the north of the island nation is Saint Lucia while to the east lies Barbados. That means that as a tourist, you are not far from some of the most splendid islands in the Carribean.
The Black Caribs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines call themselves the Garifuna.

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Special thanks to our contributors:
Adebayo Ahmed Adebola (Ilorin, Nigeria).