Statistical information Saint Kitts and Nevis 1998

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. In 1998 a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from St. Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.
top of pageLocation: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 269 km²
Land: 269 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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: NEGL
Land useArable land: 22%
Permanent crops: 17%
Permanent pastures: 3%
Forests and woodland: 17%
Other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 42,291 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 1.23% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
Adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups: black
Languages: English
Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 33% (male 7,217; female 6,860)
15-64 years: 61% (male 12,860; female 12,748)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,058; female 1,548) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.23% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.87 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.51 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.08 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 17.89 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 67.58 years
Male: 64.52 years
Female: 70.82 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (1998 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 has ever attended school
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 98% (1980 est.)
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 parishes; 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: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (14 seats, 11 popularly elected from single member constituencies; members serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000)
Election results: percent of vote by party_SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats by party_SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Osbert W. LIBURD
In the us chancery: 3,216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,016
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 686-2,636
In the us fax: [1] (202) 686-5,740
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the 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 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, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The 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. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far more in taxes than it was receiving in government services.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 5.8% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $5,700 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 6%
Industry: 22%
Services: 72% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited
Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor forceTotal: 18,172 (June 1995)
By occupation services: 69%
By occupation manufacturing: 31%
Unemployment rate: 4.3% (May 1995)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $100.2 million
Expenditures: $100.1 million, including capital expenditures of $41.4 million (1996 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:$39.1 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco
Partners: US 46.6%, UK 26.4%, Caricom nations 9.8% (1994)
Imports: total value:$131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Partners: US 45%, Caricom nations 18.8%, UK 12.5%, Canada 4.2%, Japan 4.2%, (1994)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $56 million (1995 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1_2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 16,000 kW (1995)
Production: 81 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 1,976 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 3,800 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)
Domestic: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone
International: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $NA
Percent of gdp: NA%
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysTotal: 58 km
Narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US