Saint Kitts and Nevis

constitutional monarchyIndependence 19 September 1983 (from UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBasseterre

Area360 km2

1990

Every edition of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Populationas each edition published it

40,157 people July 1990 · 55,434 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 0.59% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 27.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 65.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.7 children per woman 1990 · 1.76 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

40 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 7.9 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $3,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 6.8% in 1993

Corrected. Source files this entry under Saint Lucia. Five entries shared the code st in the 1990 edition. All corrections

Geography

13 fields

Land useshare of 360 km2

arable land 22%permanent crops 17%meadows and pastures 3%forest and woodland 17%other 41%

Total area

360km2

land area: 360 km2Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

135km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

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

People

14 fields

Population

40,157

(July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

24Death

Labor force

20,000

(1981)

Literacy

80%

Nationality

noun--Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s); adjective--Kittsian, Nevisian

Religion

Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic

Government

Constitutional monarchy

17 fields

Legislature, 11 seatsone dot, one seat

-(14 total, 11 elected) PAM 6SKNLP 2NRP 2CCM 1

14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Independence

19 September 1983 (from UK)

Constitution

19 September 1983

Legal system

based on English common law

National holiday

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Executive branch

British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (sometimes referred to as the National Assembly)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL (since 19 September 1983, previously Governor General of the Associated State since November 1981);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS (since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the Associated State since February 1980);
Deputy Prime Minister Michael Oliver POWELL (since NA)

Political parties and leaders

People's Action Movement (PAM), Kennedy Simmonds;
St. Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Lee Moore;
Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Simeon Daniel;
Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance Amory

Suffrage

universal adult at age NA House of Assembly--last held 21 March 1989 (next to be held by 21 March 1994);
seats--(14 total, 11 elected) PAM 6, SKNLP 2, NRP 2, CCM 1

Communists

none known

Member of

ACP, CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, IBRD, IMF, ISO, OAS, OECS, UN

Diplomatic representation

Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim Erstein M. EDWARDS;
Chancery at Suite 540, 2501 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone (202) 833-3550;
US--none

Flag

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

Economy

The economy has historically depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$119million

per capita $3,240; real growth rate 6% (1988 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

0.9%

(1987)

External debt

$27.6million

(1988)

Budget

Revenues

$38.5 millionExpenditures

$45.0 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $15.8 million (1988)

Overview

The economy has historically depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In recent years, tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed larger roles.

Unemployment rate

20-25% (1987)

Exports

$30.3 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--sugar, manufactures, postage stamps;
partners--US 44%, UK 30%, Trinidad and Tobago 12% (1987)

Imports

$94.7 million (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels;
partners--US 35%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Canada 6%, Japan 4% (1987)

Industrial production

growth rate 5.8% (1986)

Electricity

15,800 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 1,120 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 10% of GDP;
cash crop--sugarcane;
subsistence crops--rice, yams, bananas;
fishing potential not fully exploited;
most food imported

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 2 total, 2 usable

permanent-surface runways

2runways over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

1runways 1,220-2,439 m

none

good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and St. Martin;
2,400 telephones;
stations--2 AM, no FM, 4 TV

Defense Forces

Royal St.

3 fields