Statistical information Saint Kitts and Nevis 1990

Saint Kitts and Nevis in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claimsContiguous 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
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land use: 22% arable land; 17% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 17% forest and woodland; 41% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: located 320 km southeast of Puerto Rico St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis
top of pagePopulation: 40,157 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)
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 profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 24 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 10 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 11 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes (July to October)
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 71 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 80%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Government type: constitutional monarchy
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 areasIndependence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution: 19 September 1983
Legal system: based on English common law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult at age NA
Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL (since 19 September 1983, previously Governor General of the Associated State since November 1981; Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS (since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the Associated State since February 1980; Deputy Prime Minister Michael Oliver POWELL (since NA)
Legislative branch: Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, IBRD, IMF, ISO, OAS, OECS, UN
Diplomatic representationIn 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 St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts and Nevis
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy has historically depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In recent years, tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed larger roles.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 10% of GDP; cash crop--sugarcane; subsistence crops--rice, yams, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited; most food imported
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 unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $38.5 million; expenditures $45.0 million, including capital expenditures of $15.8 million (1988)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $30.3 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: sugar, manufactures, postage stamps
Partners: US 44%, UK 30%, Trinidad and Tobago 12% (1987)
Imports: $94.7 million (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels
Partners: US 35%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Canada 6%, Japan 4% (1987)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $27.6 million (1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 15,800 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 1,120 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: NA St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs