Statistical information Saint Kitts and Nevis 1993
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 pageLocation:
in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way between
Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 269 km²
Land: 269 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
CoastlineMaritime claimsClimate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land useArable land: 22%
Permanent crops: 17%
Meadows and pastures: 3%
Forest and woodland: 17%
Other: 41%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 40,407 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 0.59% (1993 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)
Ethnic groups: black African
Languages: English
Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.59% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 23.93 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 10.39 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.67 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes (July to October)
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 20.5 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 65.72 years
Male: 62.78 years
Female: 68.85 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
Former: Federation of Saint Christopher 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 Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon,
Saint Paul Capesterre, 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 branchLegislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IMF, INTERPOL, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim Aubrey Eric HART
In the us chancery: Suite 608, 2,100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: (202) 833-3,550
From the us: no official presence since the Charge d'Affaires resides in Saint John's (Antigua and Barbuda)
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 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 rate: 6.8% (1991)
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 7% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane; subsistence crops - rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited; most food imported
Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
growth rate 11.8% (1988 est.); accounts for 11% of
GDP
Labor force: 20,000 (1981)
Unemployment rate: 12.2% (1990)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $85.7 million; expenditures $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of $42.4 million (1993)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation 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: $24.6 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: sugar, clothing, electronics, postage stamps
Partners: US 53%, UK 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 5%, OECS 5% (1988)
ImportsCommodoties: foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels
Partners:US 36%, UK 17%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, Canada 3%, Japan 3%,
OECS 4% (1988)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 15,800 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 1,120 kWh per capita (1992)
Electricity consumptionElectricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2
Usable: 2
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 0
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US