Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Carib Indians occupied the islands for hundreds of years before the British began settlement in 1623. The islands became an associated state of the UK with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to separate from Saint Kitts.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`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 references: |  |
`Central America and the Caribbean`
Area: |  |
`total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) country comparison to the world: 210 land: 261 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`one and a half times the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`135 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin`
Climate: |  |
`tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)`
Terrain: |  |
`volcanic with mountainous interiors`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`arable land`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 19.44% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 77.78% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`0.02 cu km (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`hurricanes (July to October)`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`NA`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements`
Geography - note: |  |
`with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island`

People

Population: |  |
`50,314 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 206`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 22.8% (male 5,701/female 5,755) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 17,740/female 17,297) 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 1,681/female 2,140) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 32 years male: 32.1 years female: 32 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.823% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 132`
Birth rate: |  |
`14.07 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 146`
Death rate: |  |
`7.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 130`
Net migration rate: |  |
`1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 32% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`BASSETERRE (capital) 13,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 152 male: 6.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 74.6 years country comparison to the world: 96 male: 72.25 years female: 77.01 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.79 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 156`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 99% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 1% of population total: 1% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 96% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 4% of population total: 4% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese`
Religions: |  |
`Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic`
Languages: |  |
`English (official)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97.8% male: NA female: NA (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`9.6% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 6`

Government

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: |  |
`parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm`
Capital: |  |
`name: Basseterre geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`14 parishes; 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`
Independence: |  |
`19 September 1983 (from the UK)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 19 September (1983)`
Constitution: |  |
`19 September 1983`
Legal system: |  |
`English common law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 25 January 2010 (next to be held by 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 6, CCM 2, PAM 2, NRP 1`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a Court of Appeal and a High Court; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Kitts and Nevis); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM [Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS]`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`NA`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis`
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; green signifies the island's fertility, red symbolizes the struggles of the people from slavery, yellow denotes year-round sunshine, and black represents the African heritage of the people; the white stars stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but can also express hope and liberty, or independence and optimism
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Oh Land of Beauty!" lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES note: adopted 1983`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis is heavily dependent upon tourism revenues, which has replaced sugar, the traditional mainstay of the economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4% of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking. More than 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. The current government is constrained by one of the world's highest public debt burdens equivalent to roughly 185% of GDP, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$684 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 $694.6 million (2009 est.) $768.2 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$531 million (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`-1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 -9.6% (2009 est.) 4.6% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$13,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $14,000 (2009 est.) $15,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 3.5% industry: 25.8% services: 70.7% (2001)`
Labor force: |  |
`18,170 (June 1995) country comparison to the world: 209`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`4.5% (1997) country comparison to the world: 42`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $212.4 million expenditures: $232.1 million (2008 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`185% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`4.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 63 6.5% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`8.75% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 8.75% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$94.45 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 181 $93.23 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$823.8 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 168 $787.8 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$790.8 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $782.4 million (31 December 2007 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$648 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 105 $595.2 million (31 December 2008) $439.7 million (31 December 2007)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`130 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`120.9 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 187`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199`
Oil - imports: |  |
`1,225 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-163 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86`
Exports: |  |
`$84 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 198`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco`
Exports - partners: |  |
`US 62.3%, Canada 7.93%, Azerbaijan 6.72% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$383 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 190`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery, manufactures, food, fuels`
Imports - partners: |  |
`US 43.37%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.26%, Italy 11.83% (2009)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$314 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 171`
Exchange rates: |  |
`East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2010) 2.7 (2009) 2.7 (2005) 2.7 (2004) 2.7 (2003)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`20,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 194`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`83,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 189`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: good interisland and international connections
domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in November 2004; fixed-line teledensity about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 160 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`the government operates a national television network that broadcasts on 2 channels; cable subscription services provide access to local and international channels; the government operates a national radio network; a mix of government-owned and privately-owned broadcasters operate roughly 15 radio stations (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.kn`
Internet hosts: |  |
`51 (2010) country comparison to the world: 210`
Internet users: |  |
`17,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 195`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 204`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 50 km country comparison to the world: 131 narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 383 km country comparison to the world: 199 paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)`
Merchant marine: |  |

`
total: 160
country comparison to the world: 41
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 92, chemical tanker 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 3, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 94 (Bahrain 1, Belgium 1, China 1, Estonia 3, Italy 1, Japan 3, Kuwait 3, Latvia 2, Malaysia 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 3, Russia 11, Singapore 5, Syria 5, Turkey 22, UAE 17, UK 2, Ukraine 10, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)
`

Ports and terminals: |  |
`Basseterre, Charlestown`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force; for national security, Saint Kitts and Nevis relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados (2010)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 13,506 females age 16-49: 13,089 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 10,742 females age 16-49: 10,923 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 380 female: 422 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011