Saint Kitts and Nevis

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

name: Basseterre geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the French name translates as "low land" in English; the reference is probably to the city's location in a valley

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general

legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 16 (11 directly elected; 4 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/5/2022 parties elected and seats per party: St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) (6); Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) (3); Peoples Labour Party (PLP) (1); People's Action Movement (PAM) (1) percentage of women in chamber: 31.3% expected date of next election: October 2027

highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; 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

history: several previous (pre-independence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis

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

St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (SKNDF); Regular Force, Coast Guard Force (SKNDF Coast Guard), Reserve Force, Cadet Force Ministry of National Security: the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2025)

SKNDF's missions include protecting the country's territorial integrity, assisting the police in combating the illegal narcotic trade and other crimes, and providing humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; the force also has a regional role through the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS); St. Kitts joined the RSS in 1984; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

$1.465 billion (2024 est.) $1.448 billion (2023 est.) $1.388 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$31,300 (2024 est.) $31,000 (2023 est.) $29,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

1.2% (2024 est.) 4.3% (2023 est.) 10.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

3.6% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) 1.2% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

62.9% of GDP (2017 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$504.391 million (2024 est.) $579.568 million (2023 est.) $542.983 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$642.934 million (2024 est.) $669.168 million (2023 est.) $606.856 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

revenues: $262 million (2020 est.) expenditures: $281.889 million (2020 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 55,434 (2025 est.) male: 27,748 female: 27,686

0.53% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 19.2% (male 5,314/female 5,277) 15-64 years: 68.1% (male 18,944/female 18,575) 65 years and over: 12.7% (2024 est.) (male 3,341/female 3,682)

11.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.) male: 75.2 years female: 80.1 years

urban population: 31.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)

English (official)

arable land

refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

2 (2025)

total: 50 km (2008) narrow gauge: 50 km (2008) 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists

total: 341 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 22, container ship 16, general cargo 85, oil tanker 59, other 159

total subscriptions: 56,600 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.)

percent of population: 76% (2022 est.)