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: 214

Internet users

17,000 (2009) 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

Telephones - main lines in use

20,600 (2010) country comparison to the world: 188

Telephones - mobile cellular

84,600 (2010) country comparison to the world: 195

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget

revenues: $185.2 million expenditures: $222.2 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

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

9% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 9.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$133.8 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 -$133.8 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$189.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $199.1 million (31 December 2011 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 has not yet returned to growth. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. Furthermore, the government is constrained by one of the world's highest public debt burdens - equivalent to roughly 140% of GDP in 2012 - largely attributable to public enterprise losses.

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$58.6 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 $58.6 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners

US 57.7%, Canada 9.8%, Russia 5.2%, Germany 4.2% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$738 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$890 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 207 $889.2 million (2011 est.) $908.2 million (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.5% industry: 16.4% services: 82.1% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$15,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $15,800 (2011 est.) $16,500 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 -2% (2011 est.) -2.7% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$315.7 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 $315.7 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners

Algeria 60.4%, US 14.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.8% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 9.8% (2011 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: 110 $623.9 million (31 December 2010) $648 million (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

144% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 154% of GDP (2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$964.1 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $879.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$963 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $860 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$317.5 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $275.6 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Unemployment rate

4.5% (1997) country comparison to the world: 46

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

303,500 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - consumption

125.6 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - installed generating capacity

22,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - production

135 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas - consumption

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

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,496 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,699 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

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

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

0.2 sq km

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 Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN 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 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

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

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!" lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES note: adopted 1983

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 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: 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

Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force; for national security, Saint Kitts and Nevis relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados (2011)

Military expenditures

NA

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.3% (male 5,657/ female 5,673) 15-64 years: 70% (male 17,961/ female 17,549) 65 years and over: 7.7% (male 1,721/ female 2,165) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

13.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Death rate

7.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Education expenditures

9.6% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 6

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

6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 108

Hospital bed density

6 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 149 male: 6.28 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.84 years country comparison to the world: 97 male: 72.46 years female: 77.26 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

BASSETERRE (capital) 13,000 (2009)

Median age

total: 32.6 years male: 32.6 years female: 32.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Physicians density

1.095 physicians/1,000 population (2000)

Population

50,726 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Population growth rate

0.806% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Religions

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 96% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 4% of population total: 4% of population

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 under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Urbanization

urban population: 32% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.8% 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 (2012) country comparison to the world: 203

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

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

Basseterre, Charlestown

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: 200 paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)