1996 Edition

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

Location

17 20 N, 62 45 W -- Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago Flag ----

Area

comparative area

twice the size of Washington, DC

land area

269 sq km

total area

269 sq km

Climate

subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Coastline

135 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

natural hazards

hurricanes (July to October)

Geographic coordinates

17 20 N, 62 45 W

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

22%

forest and woodland

17%

meadows and pastures

3%

other

41%

permanent crops

17%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic with mountainous interiors

highest point

Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 35% (male 7,371; female 7,026) 15-64 years: 58% (male 12,090; female 12,057) 65 years and over: 7% (male 1,162; female 1,663) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

23.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

9.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black African

Infant mortality rate

18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.06 years (1996 est.)

male

63.84 years

total population

66.86 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980 est.)

female

98%

male

97%

total population

97%

Nationality

adjective

Kittsian, Nevisian

noun

Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)

Net migration rate

-4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

41,369 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.98% (1996 est.)

Religions

Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

all ages

0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at 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

Total fertility rate

2.52 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Capital

Basseterre

Constitution

19 September 1983

Data code

SC

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Erstein Mallet EDWARDS

telephone

[1] (202) 686-2636

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is 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

FAX

[1] (202) 686-5740

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

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

Independence

19 September 1983 (from UK)

International 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

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia)

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

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)

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), Joseph PARRY; Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

Type of government

constitutional monarchy

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados

Agriculture

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited

Budget

expenditures

$100.1 million, including capital expenditures of $41.4 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$100.2 million

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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.

Electricity

capacity

15,800 kW

consumption per capita

990 kWh (1993)

production

45 million kWh

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$35.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco

partners

US 46.6%, UK 26.4%, Caricom nations 9.8% (1994)

External debt

$45.3 million (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $220 million (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

6.2%

industry

35.7%

services

58.1% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita

$5,380 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

3% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US

Imports

$112.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

partners

US 45%, Caricom nations 18.8%, UK 12.5%, Canada 4.2%, Japan 4.2%, (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

5.9% (1992 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.9% (1995)

Labor force

18,172 (June 1995); by occupation - services 69%, manufacturing 31%

Unemployment rate

4.3% (May 1995)

Branches

Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

NA

males fit for military service

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

25,000 (1993 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

Telephones

3,800 (1986 est.)

Television broadcast stations

4

Televisions

9,500 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

2

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

125 km

total

300 km

unpaved

175 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Basseterre, Charlestown

Railways

narrow gauge

58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)

total

58 km