2024 Edition Primary

Background

Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British and French began settlement in 1623. During the 17th century, Saint Kitts became the premier base for British and French expansion into the Caribbean. The French ceded the territory to the UK in 1713. At the turn of the 18th century, Saint Kitts was the richest British Crown Colony per capita in the Caribbean, a result of the sugar trade. Although small in size and separated by only 3 km (2 mi) of water, Saint Kitts and Nevis were viewed and governed as different states until the late-19th century, when the British forcibly unified them along with the island of Anguilla. 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 referendum on Nevis to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.

Area

land

261 sq km

total

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

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

1.5 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

highest point

Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

17 20 N, 62 45 W

Geography - note

smallest country in the Western Hemisphere both in terms of area and population; 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 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

8 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

23.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 19.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.)

forest

42.3% (2018 est.)

other

34.6% (2018 est.)

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

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)volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts, and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis, are both volcanoes that are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south

Natural resources

arable land

Population distribution

population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands

Terrain

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Age structure

0-14 years

19.2% (male 5,314/female 5,277)

15-64 years

68.1% (male 18,944/female 18,575)

65 years and over

12.7% (2024 est.) (male 3,341/female 3,682)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

3.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

8.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

5.4% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.2% (2023 est.)

Death rate

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.7

potential support ratio

7.3 (2021)

total dependency ratio

41.7

youth dependency ratio

28

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 98.3% of population

improved: total

total: 98.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.3% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.7% of population

Education expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.87 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.1 years

male

75.2 years

total population

77.6 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

14,000 BASSETERRE (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

38.3 years

male

38.8 years

total

38.6 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Kittitian, Nevisian

noun

Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)

Net migration rate

1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.9% (2016)

Physician density

2.77 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

female

27,534 (2024 est.)

male

27,599

total

55,133

Population distribution

population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands

Population growth rate

0.56% (2024 est.)

Religions

Protestant 75.6% (includes Anglican 16.6%, Methodist 15.8%, Pentecostal 10.8%, Church of God 7.4%, Baptist 5.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Wesleyan Holiness 5.3%, Moravian 4.8%, Evangelical 2.1%, Brethren 1.7%, Presbyterian 0.3%), Roman Catholic 5.9%, Hindu 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other 5%, none 8.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 87.3% of population

improved: total

total: 87.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 87.3% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 12.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 12.7% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 12.7% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

19 years (2015)

male

16 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.91 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

31.1% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

the French name translates as "low land" in English; the reference is to the city's low-lying location within a valley, as well as to the fact that the city is on the leeward (downwind) part of the island, and is thus a safe anchorage

geographic coordinates

17 18 N, 62 43 W

name

Basseterre

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

14 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

conventional short form

Saint Kitts and Nevis

etymology

Saint Kitts was, and still is, referred to as Saint Christopher and this name was well established by the 17th century (although who first applied the name is unclear); in the 17th century a common nickname for Christopher was Kit or Kitt, so the island began to be referred to as "Saint Kitt's Island" or just "Saint Kitts"; Nevis is derived from the original Spanish name "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" (Our Lady of the Snows) and refers to the white halo of clouds that generally wreathes Nevis Peak

former

Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

note

note: Nevis is pronounced nee-vis

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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

chancery

1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

stkittsnevis@embskn.comEmbassy of St.Kitts and Nevis to the USA – and Permanent Mission to the OAS (embassydc.gov.kn)

FAX

[1] (202) 686-5740

telephone

[1] (202) 686-2636

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general

head of government

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022)

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

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; 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, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 assigned to Saint Kitts and Nevis; note - the ECSC 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

judge selection and term of office

chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by His Majesty, King Charles III; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; 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

description

unicameral National Assembly (15 seats, including the attorney general; 11 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 3 appointed by the governor general - 2 on the advice of the prime minister and the third on the advice of the opposition leader; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - SKNLP 44.4%, PLP 16.1%, PAM 16.2%, CCM 12.7%, other 10.6%; seats by party - SKNLP 6, CCM 3, PLP 1, CCM 1; composition - men 11, women 5, percentage women 31.3%

elections

last held on 5 August 2022 (next to be held on 2027)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Kenrick Anderson GEORGES

name

"Oh Land of Beauty!"

note

note: adopted 1983

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

National symbol(s)

brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white

Political parties

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCMNevis Reformation Party or NRPPeople's Action Movement or PAMPeople's Labour Party or PLPSaint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, tomatoes, beef, sweet potatoes, watermelons (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$236.444 million (2020 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$262 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$43.725 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$105.744 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$143.262 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income, tourism-based Caribbean OECS economy; better debt balancing; CARICOM and ECCU member; growing offshore financial and telecommunications hub; environmentally fragile; unique citizenship-driven growth model

Exchange rates

Currency

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

2.7 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

2.7 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2.7 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

2.7 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

2.7 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$389.355 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$546.373 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$577.568 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

measuring instruments, broadcasting equipment, electrical transformers, electrical control boards, ships (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 61%, India 7%, Trinidad and Tobago 5%, Germany 4%, Canada 3% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

62.5% (2017 est.)

government consumption

25.9% (2017 est.)

household consumption

41.4% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-60.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

30.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.4% (2023 est.)

industry

19.8% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

64.9% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.077 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2021

$407.417 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$606.301 million (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$674.134 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, jewelry (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 47%, Italy 9%, Turkey 6%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, China 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-2.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.2% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.67% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.56% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$1.258 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.39 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.438 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

0.48% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

10.52% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.43% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$26,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$29,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$30,100 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

4.32% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.83% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.48% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$337.533 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$293.98 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$286.075 million (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.04% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

272,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

272,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

177.455 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

72,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

39.522 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

97.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

2.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

77.743 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

56 (2020 est.)

total

30,000 (2020 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 (2019)

Internet country code

.kn

Internet users

percent of population

79% (2021 est.)

total

37,920 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is 33 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is 120 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020)

international

country code - 1-869; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity for numerous Caribbean Islands (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

16,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

57,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

2 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V4

Heliports

1 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 22, container ship 16, general cargo 85, oil tanker 59, other 159

total

341 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Basseterre, Charlestown

ports with oil terminals

2

total ports

2 (2024)

very small

2

Railways

narrow gauge

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

total

50 km (2008)

Roadways

paved

163 km

total

383 km

unpaved

220 km (2002)

Military - note

SKNDF's missions include defense of the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, protecting natural resources, interdicting narcotics trafficking, and providing humanitarian relief as neededSt. Kitts joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1984; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2024)

Military and security forces

Ministry of National Security: St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (SKNDF), St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (2024)

note

note: the Nevis Police Force includes the paramilitary Special Services Unit

Military and security service personnel strengths

less than 500 active personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SKNDF is lightly armed with equipment from Belgium, the UK, and the US (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2023)

Illicit drugs

a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.24 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.1 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

8.05 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

23.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 19.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.)

forest

42.3% (2018 est.)

other

34.6% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

200,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

31.1% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

32,892 tons (2015 est.)