Saint Kitts and Nevis

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

constitutional monarchyIndependence 19 September 1983 (from UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 90 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

Position17 20 N, 62 45 W

Area269 sq km

LocationCaribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of

1998

Every edition of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Populationas each edition published it

42,291 people July 1998 est. · 40,157 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.23% 1998 est. · 0.59% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 27.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

67.58 years 1998 est. · 65.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.45 children per woman 1998 est. · 2.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17.89 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 40 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$5,700 1996 est. · $3,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.8% 1996 est. · 6.8% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of | the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

17 fields

Land useshare of 269 sq km

arable land 22%permanent crops 17%permanent pastures 3%forests and woodland 17%other 41% (1993 est.)

Area

269sq km

land: 269 sq kmwater: 0 sq km1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

135km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginterritorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Highest point

1,156m

Mount Liamuigalowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

Climate

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

Terrain

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Natural resources

NEGL

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to October)

Environment-current issues

Environment-international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

42,291

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 1.23% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

22.87Death

8.51Net migration

-2.08

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)67.58

64.52 · 70.82

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)97%

97% · 98%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Age structure

0-14 years:: 33% (male 7,217; female 6,860)
15-64 years:: 61% (male 12,860; female 12,748)
65 years and over:: 6% (male 1,058; female 1,548) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.68 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

17.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.45 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

black

Religions

Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic

Languages

English

Government

Constitutional monarchy; Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996); Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

58%

SKLNP 58%PAM 41%last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000)

House of Assembly, 11 seats, elected 3 July 1995one dot, one seat

SKNLP 7PAM 1NRP 1CCM 2

Percent of vote

SKLNP 58%PAM 41%

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

Data code

Government type

constitutional monarchy

National capital

Basseterre

Administrative divisions

14 parishes; 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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Constitution

19 September 1983

Legal system

based on English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal adult

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)
head of government:: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister
elections:: none;
the queen is a hereditary 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

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (14 seats, 11 popularly elected from single member constituencies; members serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000)
election results:: percent of vote by party-SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats by party-SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts

Political parties and leaders

People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr. Kennedy SIMMONDS;
Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS;
Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Joseph PARRY;
Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Osbert W. LIBURD
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; US interests are monitored by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados

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

Economy

The economy has traditionally depended on the | growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt | the industry in recent years.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$235million

purchasing power parity · (1996 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$5,700

purchasing power parity · (1996 est.)

Real growth rate

5.8%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

3.1%

(1996)

GDP-composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 6%industry 22%services 72% (1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$100.2 millionExpenditures

$100.1 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $41.4 million

Fixed lines

3,800

(1986 est.)

Economy-overview

The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector.

It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far more in taxes than it was receiving in government services.

Labor force

total:: 18,172 (June 1995)
by occupation:: services 69%, manufacturing 31%

Unemployment rate

4.3% (May 1995)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

16,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production

81 million kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,976 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited

Exports

total value:: $39.1 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco
partners:: US 46.6%, UK 26.4%, Caricom nations 9.8% (1994)

Imports

total value:: $131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
partners:: US 45%, Caricom nations 18.8%, UK 12.5%, Canada 4.2%, Japan 4.2%, (1994)

Debt-external

$56 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1-2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

domestic:: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone
international:: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

25,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

9,500 (1993 est.)

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

Networkskm

Highways

320Railways

Highways: paved: 136 km · unpaved: 184 km (1996 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)