Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a small Eastern Caribbean State in the Windward Island chain of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of 30 islands, inlets and cays with a total land area of 345km2. Most of the land area and the country's population of 110, 00 (2012 estimates based on the Housing and Population Census) are on the mainland Saint Vincent. The Grenadines extend south 45 miles, and include six inhabited islands. 50% of the population resides in urban and sub-urban communities and sea transport links all the islands, while airport facilities are present in the mainland and four other islands.
Mainland Saint Vincent is volcanic in origin with a central chain of mountain peaks and ravines. The volcano last erupted in 1979. The smaller islands that make up the Grenadines are primarily of coral formation. is susceptible to hurricanes, tropical storms, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines attained political independence from Great Britain in 1979, and inherited a Westminster Parliamentary Democracy system of Government with elections every five years.
