Map of Saint Kitts and Nevis | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

top of page


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.


top of page


Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total area total: 269 km²
Land: 269 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 135 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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

Geography


top of page


Population: 40,992 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 0.85% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)
Adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian

Ethnic groups: black African

Languages: English

Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 35% (female 7,072; male 7,430)
15-64 years: 57% (female 11,784; male 11,756)
65 years and over: 8% (female 1,729; male 1,221) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.85% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 23.49 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 9.56 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.39 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)
Current issues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 19.4 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.51 years
Male: 63.51 years
Female: 69.69 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.56 children born/woman (1995 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 has ever attended school (1980)
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 98%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional 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 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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

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 theWest Indies Associated States since NA November 1981)
Head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS (since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the West Indies Associated States since NA February 1980); Deputy Prime Minister Hugh HEYLIGER (since November 1994)
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 29 November 1993 (next to be held by 15 November 1995); 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 (based on Saint Lucia)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Erstein Mallet EDWARDS
In the us chancery: Suite 608, 2,100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 833-3,550
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 833-3,553
From the us: no official presence; covered by embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados

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


top of page


Economy overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have begun to assume larger roles, although they still only account for 7% and 4% of GDP respectively. Growth in the construction and tourism sectors spurred the economic expansion in 1994. Most food is imported.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for 17% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane; subsistence crops - rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5.9% (1992 est.)

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: $103.2 million
Expenditures: $102.6 million, including capital expenditures of $50.1 million (1995 est.)

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)
Commodoties: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco
Partners: US 50%, UK 30%, CARICOM nations 11% (1992)

Imports: $100 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodoties: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Partners: US 43%, CARICOM nations 18%, UK 12%, Canada 4%, Japan 4%, OECS 4% (1992)

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)


top of page


Electricity access

Electricity production: 45 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 990 kWh (1993)

Electricity consumption

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


top of page


Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: 2,400 telephones; good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin
Local: NA
Intercity: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radio; within the islands all calls are local
International: international calls are carried by radio to Antigua and Barbuda and there switched to submarine cable or to INTELSAT, or carried to Saint Martin by radio and switched to INTELSAT

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1

Airports with paved runways
15-24 to 2437 m: 1
Under 914 m: 1

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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