Saint Kitts and Nevis

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) country comparison to the world: 213

Internet users

17,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 197

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

20,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 186

Telephones - mobile cellular

84,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 196

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget

revenues: $222.2 million expenditures: $185.2 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

4.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 56 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.9% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 8.73% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$133.1 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 -$70.8 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$158.9 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $189.3 million (31 December 2012 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 returned to growth only in 2013. 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.

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2013 est.) 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$57.3 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $68.6 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$767 million (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$952 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 $933.6 million (2012 est.) $941.7 million (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 72.1% government consumption: 10.6% investment in fixed capital: 28.4% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 30.8% imports of goods and services: -41.9% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.8% industry: 23.1% services: 75.1% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,300 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $16,300 (2012 est.) $16,800 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 -0.9% (2012 est.) -1.9% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

32.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 34.5% of GDP (2012 est.) 32.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$355.4 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $225.6 million (2012 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

0.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 1.4% (2012 est.)

Labor force

18,170 (June 1995) country comparison to the world: 210

Market value of publicly traded shares

$598.4 million (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 101 $598.4 million (31 December 2011) $623.9 million (31 December 2010)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

83% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 144% of GDP (2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$867 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $869.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$814.8 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $809.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$218.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $200.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Unemployment rate

4.5% (1997) country comparison to the world: 41

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

302,700 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - consumption

125.6 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Electricity - installed generating capacity

55,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Electricity - production

135 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,496 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,784 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Area

total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) country comparison to the world: 212 land: 261 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

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

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

Irrigated land

0.18 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 19.23% permanent crops: 0.38% other: 80.38% (2011)

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 (2011)

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

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

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 Jacinth Lorna HENRY-MARTIN (since 14 February 2011) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Edmund LAWRENCE (since 2 January 2013) 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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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

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

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

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) elections: last held on 25 January 2010 (next to be held by 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 6, CCM 2, PAM 2, NRP 1

National anthem

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

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.

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.)

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.4% (male 5,520/female 5,518) 15-24 years: 15.4% (male 3,904/female 4,028) 25-54 years: 45.1% (male 11,869/female 11,384) 55-64 years: 10.2% (male 2,637/female 2,610) 65 years and over: 7.8% (male 1,834/female 2,234) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

13.64 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Death rate

7.08 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

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 (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 105

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

Health expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 152

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.98 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 148 male: 6.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.29 years country comparison to the world: 96 male: 72.88 years female: 77.75 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

BASSETERRE (capital) 12,000 (2011)

Median age

total: 33.5 years male: 33.6 years female: 33.4 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

40.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 11

Physicians density

1.17 physicians/1,000 population (2001)

Population

51,538 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Population growth rate

0.78% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Religions

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Urbanization

urban population: 32% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Airports

2 (2013) country comparison to the world: 204

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 152 country comparison to the world: 38 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)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Basseterre, Charlestown

Railways

total: 50 km country comparison to the world: 130 narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)

Roadways

total: 383 km country comparison to the world: 200 paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)