Successive census counts have confirmed what many Saint Lucians already sense: the country is decisively moving north. Between 2010 and 2022, Gros Islet’s population rose nearly 19 per cent, from 25 210 to 29 953. The district now accounts for 17.4 per cent of the island’s total population.
This growth has come at a cost elsewhere. The capital, Castries, has quietly begun to lose residents. And the trend is even starker in the rural west – communities like Anse La Raye, Soufrière and Canaries have all seen their numbers fall, with Canaries now the smallest district in the country.
So, what’s pulling people to Gros Islet? Look no further than a wave of new investment – roads, tourism projects and housing developments. At the recent opening of the Gros Islet Beach Park, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre pointed to a slate of roadworks designed to ease the congestion that is itself a symptom of success.
“We pay special attention to Gros Islet,” Pierre said. “Because Gros Islet not only is the tourism mecca, but when people wanted land, that was the land available; they moved to Gros Islet and its environs.”
The new projects include reconstruction of the highway from the Monchy Gap to the Cap Estate entrance, expansion of the Vieux Secrieux bypass, and upgrades near the Grand Riviere Health Centre, with “several” more works to come.
The upgrades are just the beginning. Tourism Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire announced 30 new moorings for yachts and a planned beach park at Reduit.
The minister has long championed major resort projects, including the A’ Ila Resort development on Mount Pimard and refurbishments of the Starfish and Mystique properties.
And, a new police headquarters is being added to the mix.
But this northern boom tells only half the story. Roadworks are planned for Babonneau, Castries North and Castries city centre, with upgrades along the west coast road as well as the Millennial Highway slated for a September handover. Yet along that same west coast, population decline is leaving behind smaller households and emptier communities. Soufrière, with its lush Piton backdrop and reputation as a tourism jewel, has fewer residents than it did in 2010. Canaries, wedged between steep hillsides and the sea, continues to shrink, raising questions about the survival of small rural economies and traditions.
This movement isn’t just happening within the island’s shores. According to the census, at least 3 236 people emigrated between 2010 and 2022, though officials acknowledge the real number is likely higher. Most departures are tied to family relocation or work opportunities abroad, reflecting broader Caribbean patterns.
Another quiet revolution is happening inside Saint Lucian homes. The average household has fallen to 2.6 people, down from 2.8 in 2010 and 4.0 in 1991. The decline is consistent across all districts, suggesting smaller families, more people living alone, and a fundamental shift in how communities function.
Together, the numbers tell a story of people and a nation in transition. Gros Islet’s steady population rise – pulled by tourism, development, and new infrastructure – paints its own picture.
The real test for Saint Lucia won’t just be managing Gros Islet’s growth, but ensuring a future where opportunity doesn’t just reside in one corner, but thrives across all its shores.
