2013 Edition

Background

Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British began settlement in 1623. In 1967, the island territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla became an associated state of the UK with full internal autonomy. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. The remaining islands achieved independence in 1983 as Saint Kitts and Nevis. 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.

Area

261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) 261 sq km 0 sq km

total

261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

one and a half times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

135 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

highest point

Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling none of the selected 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

Geographic coordinates

17 20 N, 62 45 W

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

Irrigated land

0.18 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

19.23% 0.38% 80.38% (2011)

arable land

19.23%

other

80.38% (2011)

permanent crops

0.38%

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

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to October)

Natural resources

arable land

Terrain

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Total renewable water resources

0.02 cu km (2011)

Age structure

21.9% (male 5,596/female 5,589) 15.6% (male 3,940/female 4,042) 45.2% (male 11,782/female 11,353) 9.5% (male 2,464/female 2,401) 7.8% (male 1,771/female 2,196) (2013 est.)

0-14 years

21.9% (male 5,596/female 5,589)

15-24 years

15.6% (male 3,940/female 4,042)

25-54 years

45.2% (male 11,782/female 11,353)

55-64 years

9.5% (male 2,464/female 2,401)

65 years and over

7.8% (male 1,771/female 2,196) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

13.79 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Death rate

7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99% of population rural: 99% of population total: 99% of population urban: 1% of population rural: 1% of population total: 1% of population (2010 est.)

rural

1% of population

total

1% of population (2010 est.)

urban

1% of population

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese

Health expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

9.2 deaths/1,000 live births 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births 12.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

female

12.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total

9.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

75.07 years 72.67 years 77.5 years (2013 est.)

female

77.5 years (2013 est.)

total population

75.07 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school 97.8% NA NA (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

NA (2003 est.)

male

NA

total population

97.8%

Major urban areas - population

BASSETERRE (capital) 13,000 (2009)

Median age

33 years 33.1 years 32.9 years (2013 est.)

female

32.9 years (2013 est.)

male

33.1 years

total

33 years

Nationality

Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) Kittitian, Nevisian

adjective

Kittitian, Nevisian

noun

Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)

Net migration rate

1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

40.7% (2008)

Physicians density

1.17 physicians/1,000 population (2001)

Population

51,134 (July 2013 est.)

Population growth rate

0.8% (2013 est.)

Religions

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96% of population rural: 96% of population total: 96% of population urban: 4% of population rural: 4% of population total: 4% of population (2010 est.)

rural

4% of population

total

4% of population (2010 est.)

urban

4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 12 years 13 years (2008)

female

13 years (2008)

male

12 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.02 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

0-14 years

1 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2013 est.)

Urbanization

32% of total population (2010) 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

32% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Basseterre 17 18 N, 62 43 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

17 18 N, 62 43 W

name

Basseterre

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983 (2011)

Country name

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

conventional long form

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

conventional short form

Saint Kitts and Nevis

former

Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Jacinth Lorna HENRY-MARTIN (since 14 February 2011) 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 [1] (202) 686-2636 [1] (202) 686-5740 Los Angeles, New York

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Jacinth Lorna HENRY-MARTIN (since 14 February 2011)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 686-5740

telephone

[1] (202) 686-2636

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Edmund LAWRENCE (since 2 January 2013) Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995) Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister 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

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Edmund LAWRENCE (since 2 January 2013)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

19 September 1983 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, 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

Judicial branch

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States which includes Saint Kitts and Nevis; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Saint Kitts and Nevis note - the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in 2003 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final court of appeal on Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Kitts and Nevis is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 magistrates' courts

highest court(s)

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States which includes Saint Kitts and Nevis; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Saint Kitts and Nevis

judge selection and term of office

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts

magistrates' courts

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms) last held on 25 January 2010 (next to be held by 2015) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 6, CCM 2, PAM 2, NRP 1

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 6, CCM 2, PAM 2, NRP 1

elections

last held on 25 January 2010 (next to be held by 2015)

National anthem

"Oh Land of Beauty!" Kenrick Anderson GEORGES adopted 1983

lyrics/music

Kenrick Anderson GEORGES

name

"Oh Land of Beauty!"

National holiday

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

National symbol(s)

brown pelican

Political parties and leaders

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY] Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY] People's Action Movement or PAM [Shawn RICHARDS] Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget

$223.3 million $197 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$197 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$223.3 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.73% (31 December 2012 est.) 9.45% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$-70.8 million (2012 est.) $-88.2 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$189.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) $199.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis depends on tourism; since the 1970s tourism has replaced sugar as the traditional mainstay of the economy. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry, after several decades of losses. To compensate for lost jobs, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as export-oriented manufacturing and offshore banking. Roughly 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009, but reduced tourism arrivals and foreign investment led to an economic contraction in 2009-2012, and the economy has not yet returned to growth. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. Furthermore, the government is constrained by one of the world's highest public debt burdens - equivalent to roughly 140% of GDP in 2012 - largely attributable to public enterprise losses.

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$68.6 million (2012 est.) $68 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners

US 56%, Canada 9.8%, Bangladesh 6.2% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

72.7% 10.6% 28.3% 0% 33.5% -45% (2012 est.)

exports of goods and services

33.5%

government consumption

10.6%

household consumption

72.7%

imports of goods and services

-45%

investment in fixed capital

28.3%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

1.9% 23.4% 74.7% (2012 est.)

agriculture

1.9%

industry

23.4%

services

74.7% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,100 (2012 est.) $16,500 (2011 est.) $17,200 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.9% (2012 est.) -1.9% (2011 est.) 0% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$724.1 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$921 million (2012 est.) $929 million (2011 est.) $946.2 million (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$225.6 million (2012 est.) $239.3 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners

US 31.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 19.9%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Barbados 4.7% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2012 est.) 7.1% (2011 est.)

Labor force

18,170 (June 1995)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$598.4 million (31 December 2011) $623.9 million (31 December 2010) $648 million (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

144% of GDP (2012 est.) 154% of GDP (2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$964.1 million (31 December 2011 est.) $879.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$809.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) $860 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$200.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) $177.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

30.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.5% (1997)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

302,700 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)

Electricity - consumption

125.6 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

55,000 kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

135 million kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,496 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,784 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

the government operates a national TV 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

54 (2012)

Internet users

17,000 (2009)

Telephone system

good interisland and international connections 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 170 per 100 persons country code - 1-869; connected internationally by the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables (2010)

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 170 per 100 persons

general assessment

good interisland and international connections

international

country code - 1-869; connected internationally by the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

20,000 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

84,000 (2012)

Airports

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

2

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 16, cargo 81, chemical tanker 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 73 (Belgium 1, China 1, Egypt 1, Greece 2, India 2, Japan 2, Malaysia 1, Norway 3, Pakistan 1, Russia 13, Singapore 10, Turkey 18, UAE 8, UK 1, Ukraine 8, US 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

73 (Belgium 1, China 1, Egypt 1, Greece 2, India 2, Japan 2, Malaysia 1, Norway 3, Pakistan 1, Russia 13, Singapore 10, Turkey 18, UAE 8, UK 1, Ukraine 8, US 1) (2010)

total

152

Ports and terminals

Basseterre, Charlestown

Railways

50 km 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)

total

50 km

Roadways

383 km 163 km 220 km (2002)

total

383 km

unpaved

220 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

13,506 13,089 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

13,089 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

13,506

Manpower fit for military service

10,742 10,923 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

10,923 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

10,742

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

422 (2010 est.)

female

422 (2010 est.)

male

380

Military branches

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security, Labour, Immigration, and Social Security: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (2013)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security, Labour, Immigration, and Social Security

Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (2013)

Military expenditures

NA

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Disputes - international

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/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