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The total population of Saint Lucia is estimated at 161,000 in 2005, of which 31.3% live in urban areas. [1] Women represent 50.9% of the total population. [2] In the year 2004, 43,000 women were 15 to 49 years old, that is, around 53% of the total number of women. [3] After some fluctuation during the period between 1970 and 1990, the average annual rate of growth of the population seems to have stabilized at around 0.8% (Figure 1).
Estimated crude death rates decreased steadily, among both sexes, during 1995-2002 (Figure 2).
The gross national income per capita (PPP value) was US$5,310 in 2003. [4] Data are not available as to the income ratio of the population with the 20% highest and the 20% lowest income. Public expenditure on health was 3.4% of gross domestic product in the year 2000, and private expenditure was 1.3% (excluding health insurance) in 2004. [5] Almost the entire population has access to improved water sources, and access to sanitation services is very high (Figure 3). There is no urban-rural difference in access to either of these services.
Among the population aged 15 years and over, literacy was 81.5% in 1998; male literacy was 81.0% and female literacy, 82.0%. [6] In 2002-2003, the gross enrollment rate at the primary level exceeded 100% for both sexes (Figure 4).
In 2005, life expectancy at birth was 74.3 years for women and 71.3 years for men. [11] There has been a steady increase in life expectancy for both sexes, and the gap between male and female life expectancy is narrowing (Figure 5).
The prevalence of tobacco consumption in the population 13-15 years of age was 10% among women and 19% among men (2002). Prevalence data on obesity in the population 15 to 49 years old are not available.
In 2002, male age-specific death rates were higher than female rates in all age groups except among children under 1 year old (Figure 6).
The infant mortality rate was 13.5 per 1,000 live births in 2003. [13]
Upon examining age-specific mortality in Saint Lucia by cause of death, in 2002, substantial variability was found in the death rates for the younger age groups. There are two main reasons for this: the low total population size, and the small number of deaths occurring in the usually healthy, younger age groups. At ages 1 to 4 years, death rates of zero were frequent; however, the importance of external causes in mortality at these ages was evident (Figure 7). These causes of death were also the most important among children 5 to 14 years of age, especially among males.
Among those 15 to 44 years old, as well as the population aged 45 to 64 years, the male death rate due to external causes was at least 4 times the female rate. However, at ages 45 to 64, male and female mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system, and to neoplasms, far exceeded mortality due to external causes. An important element within mortality due to neoplasms, among men and women, is mortality due to malignant neoplasms of the digestive organs and peritoneum. At ages 45 to 64 years, the male death rate due to this cause was 79 per 100,000 in 2002, and the female rate, 47. Deaths due to malignant neoplasms of this site, together with mortality from malignant neoplasms of uterus (41 per 100,000 women) and breast (28), contributed over half of the total mortality due to neoplasms among women in this age group. Cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus are major causes of death among adults 45 years and over, and especially adults 65 years and over (Figures 9 and 10). Among women 45 to 64 years old, malignant neoplasms of uterus and breast, jointly, caused greater mortality in 2002 than either ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease (Figures 9 and 10).
Accidents, suicide and homicide are all included in the grouping external causes of death . In 2002, male death rates in Saint Lucia due to each of these causes were several times greater than those for females (Figure 11).
In 2004 the total fertility rate in Saint Lucia was 2.2 children per woman. [14] Adolescent pregnancy is one of several reproductive risk categories; [15] it constitutes a barrier that can prevent women from developing capabilities to help them achieve the resources necessary for their well-being. In Saint Lucia, in 2004, 6% of adolescents 15 to 19 years old gave birth; among women 35 to 49 years, 3% gave birth to a child. 16] There were 4 maternal deaths in 2003. [17] A slightly rising trend is seen in the number of AIDS cases reported annually during the period 1985-2003, in both sexes; however, in most of these years there were several cases for which the sex was not reported (Figure 12). A breakdown by sex is not available for cases occurring in 2001 (13 total cases) and 2002 (24 total cases); in 2003 there were 19 male cases and 12 female cases. [18] In September 2005 there were 42 people under treatment with antiretroviral drugs; [19] the number of people 15 to 49 years old who needed such treatment is unknown. [20]
In 2003, 99.0% of all births were attended by trained personnel and, in 2001, 47.8% of pregnant women received at least one consultation for prenatal care, provided by a trained health worker. [21] Although this subject is an essential element for analysis of gender-based inequalities related to the participation of women and men in the health sector, the statistics that would allow such analyses are not currently available.
[1] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [2] Based on: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. http://www.paho.org , 26 January 2006. [3] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [4] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [5] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [6] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [7] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [8] United Nations. Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw , 27 March 2006. [9] The source states that there was “accession,” not “ratification.” [10] United Nations. Population Policy Data Bank, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc , 27 March 2006. [11] PAHO/AIS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: United Nations.
World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision
. New York, 2005.
Source: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. (December 2005)
Source: PAHO/AIS.
Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005
. Washington, DC, 2005.
Source: UNESCO.
Source: United Nations.
World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision
. New York, 2005.
Source: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. (December 2005)
Source: Based on data from: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. (December 2005)
Source: Idem.
Source: Idem.
Source: Idem.
Source: Idem. 
Source: Idem. 
Source: Idem. 
Source: Idem. 
Source: Idem.
Source: PAHO/AI and National AIDS Program.