1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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
Agriculture
accounts for 7% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane; subsistence crops - rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited; most food imported
Airports
total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
Area
total area: 269 sq km land area: 269 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Birth rate
23.7 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
Budget
revenues: $85.7 million expenditures: $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of $42.4 million (1993 est.)
Capital
Basseterre
Climate
subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Coastline
135 km
Constitution
19 September 1983
Currency
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Death rate
9.98 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP
Digraph
SC
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: (vacant); Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim Aubrey Eric HART chancery: Suite 608, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 833-3550
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $10.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $67 million
Electricity
capacity: 15,800 kW production: 45 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,120 kWh (1992)
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to hurricanes (July to October) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Ethnic divisions
black African
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
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) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister
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)
External debt
$43.3 million (1992)
FAX
(202) 833-3553
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag
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
Highways
total: 300 km paved: 125 km unpaved: otherwise improved 125 km; unimproved earth 50 km
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
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
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)
Independence
19 September 1983 (from UK)
Industrial production
growth rate 11.8% (1988 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP
Industries
sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Infant mortality rate
19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.9% (1992)
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Labor force
20,000 (1981)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 22% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 17% other: 41%
Languages
English
Legal system
based on English common law
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 66.11 years male: 63.14 years female: 69.27 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%
Location
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Member of
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IMF, INTERPOL, LORCS, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO
Names
conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
National holiday
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $163 million (1992)
National product per capita
$4,000 (1992)
National product real growth rate
4.1% (1992)
Nationality
noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian
Natural resources
negligible
Net migration rate
-6.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
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.
Political parties and leaders
People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr. Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Simeon DANIEL; Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY
Population
40,671 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
0.72% (1994 est.)
Ports
Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Charlestown (Nevis)
Railroads
58 km 0.760-meter gauge on Saint Kitts for sugarcane
Religions
Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Suffrage
universal adult at age NA
Telecommunications
good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin; 2,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 4 TV
Terrain
volcanic with mountainous interiors
Total fertility rate
2.6 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
constitutional monarchy
Unemployment rate
12.2% (1990)
US diplomatic representation
no official presence since the Charge d'Affaires resides in Saint John's (Antigua and Barbuda)