Socioeconomic Status of SVG

The nation state of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an archipelago located in the Eastern Caribbean. Seven (7) of the thirty-two (32) islands and cays that comprise the archipelago, are inhabited.   Saint Vincent, which also seats the capital city of Kingstown, is the main island, and the other inhabited islands are: Bequia, Canouan, Union Island, Mayreau, Mustique, Petit Saint Vincent and Palm Island.  Combined, the country’s land space is 389 square kilometers. The population is estimated at 110, 784. 

There are no recent data on the levels of poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The table below, which presents data from a 2008 Country Poverty Assessment (CPA) Study, reveals that poverty is high at 30.2% of the population. Indigence was recorded at 2.9% of the population. The 2008 report also indicates that 48.2 percent of the population was below the vulnerability line, meaning that they can slip into poverty at the slightest economic or other shock.

 Poverty and indigence levels in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Of import, is the information presented in the report that there are more female headed households than male headed households.  Further, a 2015 report by the Statistical office of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines indicates that 26.4% of women in the labour force was unemployed, compared with 19.4% of men in the labour force.  

In general, higher levels of education (including skills training) lead to better opportunities for employment. This was found to be the case in the 2015 report on labour statistics in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which found that “the gender gap generally decreased as educational attainment increased”.

The above scenario points clearly to the need to ensure that young women, particularly those who are in socioeconomic vulnerable situations,  be provided with opportunities to discover or rediscover who they are, to continue their education and to have that opportunity to establish meaningful, independent lives.

A 2008 Country Poverty Assessment showed that almost half of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ population was below the vulnerability line and can slip into poverty at the slightest economic or other shock.

A 2015 report by the Statistical Office of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines revealed that 26.4% of women in the labour force was unemployed, compared with 19.4% of men in the labour force.

Of import, there are more female headed households than male headed households.

The above scenario points clearly to the need to ensure that young women, particularly those who are in socioeconomic vulnerable situations,  be provided with opportunities to discover or rediscover who they are, to continue their education and to have that opportunity to establish meaningful, independent lives.