6.21 deaths/1,000 population. The infant mortality rate is 17.06 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth is 72.3 years. The total fertility rate is 2.11 children born/woman. The net migration rate is a negative -7.75 migrants/1,000. The overall literacy rate is 96%. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has 65 primary schools and 23 secondary schools. Although education is not compulsory, almost all of the population aged 5-15 years old attends school. Most nationals, 67%, do not study beyond the primary or basic school level, and about 18.5% progress to the secondary level. About 2.4% reach the post-secondary level, which includes vocational training and university education.HEALTHChildren are immunized against common childhood illnesses. Most deaths occurring in children aged 0-9 years old are confined to the first year of life. The main causes have been conditions originating in the prenatal period and congenital anomalies. Approximately 90% of all children under 5 years old enjoy a satisfactory nutritional status in terms of weight-for-age set out by the growth charts.Approximately 22% of all births, on average, occur in teenage women, with 9% occur in women 35-49 years of age. Because high-risk pregnancies comprise nearly 30% of all births, a health and family life education program is in place in primary and secondary schools and youth guidance centers. Women of childbearing age (15-44 years old) are one of the priority groups targeted for special attention by the government. A range of programs providing prenatal and postnatal care, family planning services, and general medical care is established for women. Approximately 33.5% of all single-parent households with one or more children are headed by women. Almost 90% of these women were never married, while 36.3% of them have responsibility for four or more children.In the 60 year and older age group, the greatest health risk is from chronic non-communicable d...
