Saint Kitts and Nevis

Internet country code

.kn

Internet hosts

53 (2009) country comparison to the world: 206

Internet users

16,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 195

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2003)

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

Telephones - main lines in use

20,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 194

Telephones - mobile cellular

80,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 187

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2003)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget

revenues: $89.7 million expenditures: $128.2 million (2003 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 63 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.69% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 94 8.89% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$163 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Debt - external

$314 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 174

Economy - overview

The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis is heavily dependent upon tourism revenues, which has replaced sugar, the traditional mainstay of the economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4% of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking. Economic growth was above average for Latin America from 2004 to 2006, but has since slowed. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, the St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. The current government is constrained by a high public debt burden equivalent to nearly 185% of GDP by the end of 2006, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.

Electricity - consumption

120.9 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

130 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Exports

$84 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 197

Exports - commodities

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners

US 65.7%, Azerbaijan 7.5%, Canada 6% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$546 million (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$759.5 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207 $742 million (2007 est.) $735.8 million (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 25.8% services: 70.7% (2001)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $18,800 (2007 est.) $18,700 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 0.9% (2007 est.) 5.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$383 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 187

Imports - commodities

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners

US 46.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.8%, UK 4.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Labor force

18,170 (June 1995) country comparison to the world: 202

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 104 $439.7 million (31 December 2007) $304.5 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Oil - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Oil - imports

1,225 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of domestic credit

$790.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 113 $782.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$107.2 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 110 $97.31 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$680.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 103 $688.6 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

4.5% (1997) country comparison to the world: 57

Area

total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) country comparison to the world: 211 land: 261 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 extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

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

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

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 19.44% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 77.78% (2005)

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

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

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to October)

Natural resources

arable land

Terrain

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Total renewable water resources

0.02 cu km (2000)

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

name: Basseterre geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

19 September 1983

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

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

19 September 1983 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a Court of Appeal and a High Court; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Kitts and Nevis); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 10,095 females age 16-49: 10,081 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 8,159 females age 16-49: 8,517 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 376 female: 362 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.3% (male 5,397/female 5,138) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 13,231/female 13,196) 65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,326/female 1,843) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

17.67 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Death rate

8.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Education expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 8

Ethnic groups

predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.94 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 130 male: 15.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.2 years country comparison to the world: 109 male: 70.33 years female: 76.25 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97.8% male: NA female: NA (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 28.6 years male: 27.9 years female: 29.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian

Net migration rate

-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Population

40,131 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Population growth rate

0.847% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Religions

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2005)

Sex ratio

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: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.26 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Urbanization

urban population: 32% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/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

Airports

2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 206

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 159 country comparison to the world: 40 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 109, chemical tanker 7, container 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 121 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 5, Malaysia 1, Pakistan 3, Romania 1, Russia 19, Singapore 1, Spain 1, Syria 7, Turkey 35, Ukraine 9, UAE 18, UK 3, Yemen 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Basseterre

Railways

total: 50 km country comparison to the world: 131 narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)

Roadways

total: 383 km country comparison to the world: 197 paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)