Map of Saint Kitts and Nevis | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | 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: Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 269 km²
Land: 269 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 135 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive 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
Arable land: 22%
Permanent crops: 17%
Meadows and pastures: 3%
Forest and woodland: 17%
Other: 41%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes (July to October)

Geography


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Population: 40,671 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 0.72% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)

Ethnic groups: black African

Languages: English

Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.72% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 23.7 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 9.98 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.52 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 19.9 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.11 years
Male: 63.14 years
Female: 69.27 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Conventional short form: 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 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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 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 NA November 1981)
Head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS (since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the Associated State since NA February 1980); Deputy Prime Minister Sydney Earl MORRIS (since NA)

Legislative branch: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
House of Assembly: elections last held 29 November 1993 (next to be held by 21 March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total, 11 elected) PAM 4, SKNLP 4, NRP 1, CCM 2

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IMF, INTERPOL, LORCS, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: (vacant); Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim Aubrey Eric HART
From the us chancery: Suite 608, 2,100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20,037
From the us telephone: (202) 833-3,550
From the us fax: (202) 833-3,553
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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy 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 parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4.1% (1992)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture 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: 11.8% (1988 est.), accounts for 11% of GDP

Labor force: 20,000 (1981)

Unemployment rate: 12.2% (1990)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues:$85.7 million

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

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: $32.4 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: sugar, clothing, electronics, postage stamps
Partners: US 53%, UK 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 5%, OECS 5% (1988)

Imports: $100 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: 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 gold

Debt external: $43.3 million (1992)

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 access

Electricity production: 45 million kWh

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 1,120 kWh (1992)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $NA, NA% of GDP

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
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 runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US