The beautiful Caribbean island of Saint Lucia is known for its natural amenities: a lush interior rainforest, volcanic mountains, sandy beaches and coastal reefs. More than 1.2 million tourists flocked to the small island in 2018 alone. Despite the country’s up-and-coming image as a sunny vacation spot, there are far more nuances to the daily lives of native Saint Lucians. Here are the top 10 facts about living conditions in Saint Lucia.

1. Tourism: Around 65% of Saint Lucia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is generated through tourism. The industry’s foreign-dependent nature proved troubling for Saint Lucians, especially when the 2008 global financial crisis spurred a reduction of commercial flights to the island. However, recently, the country began a new effort to boost cruise and yachting tourism through dock expansions and marketing campaigns. The total number of visitors increased by 10.2% from 2017 to 2018 alone.
2. Education: According to the World Bank, Saint Lucia has a primary education gross enrollment rate of 104%. As a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Saint Lucia became a partner of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in 2016. The GPE is helping Saint Lucia strengthen its education system. The group has already disbursed more than $1.6 million for teacher development, curriculum standardization and learning assessments.
3. Hurricane Risk: Saint Lucia sits on the southeastern side of the Caribbean. That means it generally fares well during severe weather seasons because storms strengthen as they move northwards. For example, during Hurricane Maria in 2017, Saint Lucia only suffered minor road damage. Many neighboring islands, especially those to the north, faced complete devastation. However, the Saint Lucian economy relies significantly on agricultural exports, which are often damaged by severe weather. For example, Tropical Storm Kirk damaged more than 80% of the island’s banana industry.
4. Banana Industry: Saint Lucia’s agricultural industry employs more than 10% of the island’s workforce in 2022. Bananas are the main export crop. Black Sigatoka Disease is also a serious concern. This disease damages the leaves of banana trees, rendering them unable to grow healthy fruit. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (U.N.) is one organization that reached out to Saint Lucians, as well as other Caribbean nations, to provide expert support. The FAO holds training sessions in the management of the disease, including proper selection and administration of fungicides.
5. Crime: Saint Lucia’s homicide rate was 39% in 2021. However, in March 2024, Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and National Security, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, announced the government’s commitment to renovating police facilities and strengthening existing laws in an effort to reduce the homicide rate.
6. Public Health: Saint Lucia is among the healthier of the Caribbean countries, with an average life expectancy of 71 years. That said, the country does have several serious health care issues. According to a 2016 survey, 92.5% of Saint Lucians felt “deprivations related to health insurance coverage.” Additionally, there are only 0.64 physicians per 1,000 people living in the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2.5 health workers per 1,000 are necessary to cover primary health care needs. As a result, Saint Lucia is in need of change.
7. Public Debt: As of 2016, Saint Lucia had a public debt of 70.7%, which is detrimentally high for a developing nation. The unemployment rate is approximately 16%. However, the recent spike in visitors to the island has encouraged Saint Lucians to capitalize on tourism. Industry officials expanded the high-traffic port of Pointe Seraphine to accommodate larger ships. The Ministry of Tourism also introduced new international marketing campaigns.
8. Poverty: According to the World Bank, 25% of individuals live in poverty in Saint Lucia. This is largely due to the lack of diversity in the island’s domestic job market and an overreliance on foreign markets. Economic expansion will be crucial in reducing poverty and improving living conditions on the island. Country officials are capitalizing on the increase in cruise and yachting tourism to create new jobs on the island.
9. Erosion: Wearing away from mountains, hillsides and beaches is a dangerous problem for Saint Lucians. This is a result of particularly bad hurricanes, like Hurricane Tomas in 2010. It is also due to poor agricultural practices, as erosion is a chief environmental concern on the island. Mudslides can ruin arable land, contaminate drinking supplies and shut down rural roads. Coastal erosion can damage houses and harm wildlife. Organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) promote better land management practices to mitigate these ill effects. The Saint Lucia National Trust also began a project in November 2016 to reduce coastal erosion through beach stabilization. The process is still ongoing.

These top facts about living conditions in Saint Lucia demonstrate how this island is more than just a scenic visitor spot. It is a complex country, balancing tourist growth and educational improvements with agricultural and infrastructural instabilities. With the right developmental strides, Saint Lucia can ensure the prosperity of all its citizens.