Map of Saint Kitts and Nevis | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: First settled by the British in 1623 the islands along with Anguilla became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. St. Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 135 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors

Elevation

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: 22% arable land; 17% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 17% forest and woodland; 41% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: located 320 km southeast of Puerto Rico


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Population: 40,068 (July 1989), growth rate 0.2% (1989)

Nationality: noun--Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s; adjective--Kittsian, Nevisian

Ethnic groups: mainly of black African descent

Languages: English

Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 24 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: - 12 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: subject to hurricanes (July to October)

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 41 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 70 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 80%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Government type: independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State

Capital: Basseterre

Administrative divisions: 14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Dependent areas

Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Constitution: 19 September 1983

Legal system: based on English common law; highest judicial organ is Court of Appeal of Leeward and Windward Islands

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal adult

Executive branch: Sir Clement ARRINDELL, Governor General (since 1981; Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS, Prime Minister (since 1980)

Legislative branch: Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, IBRD, IMF, ISO, OAS, OECS, UN

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim Erstein M. EDWARDS; Chancery at Suite 540, 2,501 M Street NW, Washington DC 20,037; telephone (202) 833-3,550; US--none

Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Although production of sugarcane--the islands' key crop--has declined, expansion of tourism and construction has produced a 4% average annual rate of real GDP growth since 1982.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: sugar on St. Kitts, cotton on Nevis

Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1986)

Labor force: 20,000 (1981)

Unemployment rate: 20-25% (1987)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $20.7 million; expenditures $24.4 million, including capital expenditures of $5.9 million (1986)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $27.2 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: --sugar, manufactures, postage stamps
Partners: --US 44%, UK 30%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%

Imports: $79.5 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: --foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels
Partners: --US 35%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Canada 6%, Japan 4%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $23.6 million (December 1987)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)


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Electricity
Capacity: 11,400 kW capacity; 32 million kWh produced, 800 kWh per capita (1988)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: NA

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs