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Central America and Caribbean :: Saint Kitts and Nevis

- ## Introduction :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- 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 referendum on Nevis to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority vote needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to separate from Saint Kitts.

- ## Geography :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- 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)
  land: 261 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Area - comparative:
  1.5 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:
  agricultural land: 23.1%
  arable land 19.2%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 3.5%
  forest: 42.3%
  other: 34.6% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  0.18 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  0.02 cu km (2011)
  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:
  smallest country in the Americas and Western Hemisphere; 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 and Society :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- Nationality:
  noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
  adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
  Ethnic groups:
  predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
  Languages:
  English (official)
  Religions:
  Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
  Population:
  51,936 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20.99% (male 5,457/female 5,445)
  15-24 years: 15.1% (male 3,845/female 3,999)
  25-54 years: 45.01% (male 11,951/female 11,427)
  55-64 years: 10.79% (male 2,806/female 2,800)
  65 years and over: 8.1% (male 1,912/female 2,294) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 34 years
  male: 34.2 years
  female: 33.9 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.76% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Birth rate:
  13.5 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Death rate:
  7.09 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Net migration rate:
  1.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 32% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  BASSETERRE (capital) 14,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 11.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.52 years
  male: 73.09 years
  female: 77.99 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Total fertility rate:
  1.78 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Health expenditures:
  6.4% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Hospital bed density:
  2.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 98.3% of population
  rural: 98.3% of population
  total: 98.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.7% of population
  rural: 1.7% of population
  total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 87.3% of population
  rural: 87.3% of population
  total: 87.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 12.7% of population
  rural: 12.7% of population
  total: 12.7% of population (2007 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  28.4% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Education expenditures:
  4.2% of GDP (2007)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 13 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 13 years (2008)

- ## Government :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- 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:
  several previous (preindependence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983 (2015)
  Legal system:
  English common law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: yes
  citizenship by descent: yes
  dual citizenship recognized: yes
  residency requirement for naturalization: 14 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Samuel W.T. SEATON (since 2 September 2015); note - SEATON was acting Governor General from 20 May to 2 September 2015
  head of government: Prime Minister Timothy HARRIS (since 18 February 2015); Deputy Prime Minister Shawn RICHARDS (since 22 February 2015)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister
  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
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly (14 seats; 11 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 3 appointed by the governor general; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 16 February 2015 (next to be held by 2020)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAM 4, SKNLP 3, CCM 2, PLP 1, NRP 1
  Judicial branch:
  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; 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
  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
  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]
  People's Labour Party or PLP [Timothy HARRIS]
  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, 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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Justin Kareem HAWLEY (since 26 May 2015)
  chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
  telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
  FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
  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 symbol(s):
  brown pelican, Royal Poinciana (Flamboyant) tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Oh Land of Beauty!"
  lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES
  note: adopted 1983

- ## Economy :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- Economy - overview:
  The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis depends on tourism; since the 1970s, tourism has replaced sugar as the economy’s traditional mainstay. 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 2009-2013, and the economy returned to growth only in 2014. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. The government has made notable progress on reducing its public debt, from 154% of GDP in 2011 to 83% in 2013, although it still faces one of the highest levels in the world, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $1.281 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.208 billion (2013 est.)
  $1.137 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 200
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $852 million (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  6.1% (2014 est.)
  6.2% (2013 est.)
  -0.9% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $21,500 (2014 est.)
  $20,200 (2013 est.)
  $19,100 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Gross national saving:
  21.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  21.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
  16.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 73.5%
  government consumption: 10.9%
  investment in fixed capital: 29.3%
  investment in inventories: -0.1%
  exports of goods and services: 29.1%
  imports of goods and services: -42.7%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1.7%
  industry: 24.8%
  services: 73.5% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
  Industries:
  tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
  Industrial production growth rate:
  0.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Labor force:
  18,170 (June 1995 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Unemployment rate:
  4.5% (1997)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $296.3 million
  expenditures: $259.3 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  34.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  4.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Public debt:
  83% of GDP (2013 est.)
  144% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.8% (2014 est.)
  1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Central bank discount rate:
  6.5% (31 December 2009)
  6.5% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  9.28% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.78% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Stock of narrow money:
  $215.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $193 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.094 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $958.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $396.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $504.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $598.4 million (31 December 2011)
  $598.4 million (31 December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Current account balance:
  -$65 million (2014 est.)
  -$52 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Exports:
  $62.9 million (2014 est.)
  $58.1 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Exports - commodities:
  machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
  Exports - partners:
  US 49.9%, Canada 5.3%, Azerbaijan 4.8%, Bolivia 4.7%, Bangladesh 4.4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $241.8 million (2014 est.)
  $251.3 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
  Imports - partners:
  US 39.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 17.8%, Germany 11.8%, China 4.3% (2014)
  Debt - external:
  $156.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $158.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
  2.7 (2014 est.)
  2.7 (2013 est.)
  2.7 (2012 est.)
  2.7 (2011 est.)
  2.7 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- Electricity - production:
  140 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Electricity - consumption:
  130.2 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  46,200 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  95.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  4.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  1,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  1,690 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  250,700 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195

- ## Communications :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 19,100
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 76,600
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 149 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  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 170 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 (2010)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 3, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2003)
  Internet country code:
  .kn
  Internet users:
  total: 17,000
  percent of population: 34.4% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 203

- ## Transportation :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- Airports:
  2 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 50 km
  narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Roadways:
  total: 383 km
  paved: 163 km
  unpaved: 220 km (2002)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Merchant marine:
  total: 152
  by type: 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
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Basseterre, Charlestown

- ## Military :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- 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)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
  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.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

- 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

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