Date of independence, or formation date: 1979
Date when current borders were established: 1979
National day: Oct 27
Vehicle country identifying code: WV
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): -4
International telephone dialling code: +1784
Internet country identifying code: .vc

Part of the Windward Islands group, and bounded by submerged coral reefs, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the Caribbean playground of the international celebrity circuit. Tourism and bananas are the economic mainstays; St. Vincent is also the world's largest arrowroot producer. It is mostly volcanic; the one remaining active volcano, La Soufrière, last erupted in 1979. The Grenadines are flat, mainly bare, coral islands.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004