The Government of Saint Lucia, through the Central Statistical Office (CSO), has officially launched the Survey of Living Conditions and Household Budgets—a major national initiative aimed at gathering vital data on household income, expenditure, and living standards.
The year-long survey, funded by the World Bank under the OECS Data for Decision Making Project, will provide critical insights to help shape evidence-based policies and improve the quality of life for all Saint Lucians.
The survey, which follows international best practices, will assess poverty levels, household consump-tion patterns, and access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
Data collected will also inform national development planning and contribute to the compilation of national household sector accounts, crucial for measuring economic growth and inflation.
Maureen Lubin, Statistician at the CSO and lead trainer for the survey, emphasized the importance of public cooperation in ensuring the success of this nationwide exercise.
“We’re encouraging everyone to be honest in their responses. The goal is to reduce poverty in Saint Lucia and enhance the standard of living for all,” Lubin stated.
“Our enumerators have been well-trained and are now heading into communities, starting with the Degazon and Monier areas, to con-duct pilot interviews.”
Enumerators, equipped with modern data collection technology, have undergone two weeks of inten-sive training to ensure accurate and efficient data gathering across the island.
Martha Joseph, also a trainer with the CSO, highlighted the survey’s extensive scope:
“It’s a sample survey that will run for one year, collecting quarterly data from selected households. We’re looking at spending habits, consumption, and satisfaction with essential services to better under-stand the realities faced by our citizens.”
The CSO stresses that public participation is crucial to the success of this effort, which aims to inform policy decisions that directly impact the nation’s socio-economic development.
Enumerator training concluded on Friday, April 4, 2025, and fieldwork is now officially underway.