Statistical information Saint Kitts and Nevis 1996

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: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 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 claimsContiguous 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources: Negligible
Land useArable land: 22%
Permanent crops: 17%
Permanent pastures: 3%
Forests and woodland: 17%
Other: 41%
Irrigated land: NA
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
41,369 (July 1996 est.)
40,992 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:0.98% (1996 est.)
0.85% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)
Adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups: Black African
Languages:
EnglishReligions:
Anglican, other
Protestant sects,
Roman CatholicDemographic profileAge structure0-14 years:35% (male 7,371; female 7,026) (July 1996 est.)
35% (male 7,430; female 7,072) (July 1995 est.)
15-64 years:58% (male 12,090; female 12,057) (July 1996 est.)
57% (male 11,756; female 11,784) (July 1995 est.)
65 years and over:7% (male 1,162; female 1,663) (July 1996 est.)
8% (male 1,221; female 1,729) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate:
0.98% (1996 est.)
0.85% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
23.28 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
23.49 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
9.21 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
9.56 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.28 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
-5.39 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)
International agreements: party to_Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
All ages:0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:18.9 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
19.4 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 66.86 years 91,996 est.), 66.51 years (1995 est.)
Male: 63.84 years (1996 est.), 63.51 years (1995 est.)
Female: 70.06 years (1996 est.), 69.69 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.52 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.56 children born/woman (1995 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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over that has ever attended school (1980)
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
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:
BasseterreAdministrative 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
U.K.)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution: 19 September 1983
Legal system: Based on English common law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996), previously Governor General of the West Indies Associated States (since NA November 1981)
Head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995) were appointed by the governor general
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister
Legislative branch: Unicameral House of Assembly:Elections last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000; results_SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats_(14 total, 11 elected) SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on
Saint Lucia)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representationFlag 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 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. Most food is imported. The newly elected government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate:
3% (1995 est.)
4.5% (1994 est.)
Real gdp per capita:
purchasing power parity_ $5,380 (1995 est.)
$5,300 (1994 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture 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: Growth rate 5.9% (1992 est.)
Labor force:
18,172 (June 1995)
by occupation_services 69%, manufacturing 31%
Unemployment rate:
4.3% (May 1995)
12.2% (1990)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $100.2 million (1996 est.), $103.2 million (1995 est.)
Expenditures: $100.1 million, including capital expenditures of $41.4 million (1996 est.), $102.6 million, including capital expenditures of $50.1 million (1995 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: Calendar year
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:
total value. $35.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
$32.4 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities:Machinery
Food
Electronics
Beverages and tobacco
Partners:U.S. 46.6%
U.K. 26.4%
CARICOM nations 9.8% (1994)
ImportsTotal value:$112.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
$100 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities:Machinery
Manufactures
Food
Fuels
Partners:U.S. 45%
CARICOM nations 18.8%
U.K. 12.5%
Canada 4.2%
Japan 4.2% (1994)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external:
$45.3 million (1994 est.)
$43.3 million (1992)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1_2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 15,800 kW
Production: 45 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 990 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 3,800 telephones (1986 est.); good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via
Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and
Netherlands Antilles)
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 mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2
15-24 to 2437 m: 1
Under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: None
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: Transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the U.S.