ARCHIVE // KN // 1998

Saint Kitts and Nevis

1998 Edition — sovereign

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Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited
Budget [time series]
revenues: $100.2 million expenditures: $100.1 million, including capital expenditures of $41.4 million (1996 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]
$56 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid [time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]
The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far more in taxes than it was receiving in government services.
Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]
16,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]
1,976 kWh (1995)
Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]
81 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates [time series]
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1-2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Exports [time series]
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)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year Communications
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity-$235 million (1996 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 6% industry: 22% services: 72% (1996 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity-$5,700 (1996 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]
5.8% (1996 est.)
Imports [time series]
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)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]
3.1% (1996)
Labor force [time series]
total: 18,172 (June 1995) by occupation: services 69%, manufacturing 31%
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
25,000 (1993 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
3,800 (1986 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
4
Televisions [time series]
9,500 (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
4.3% (May 1995)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 269 sq km land: 269 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Coastline [time series]
135 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]
NA
International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]
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
Geographic coordinates [time series]
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 22% permanent crops: 17% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 17% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Location [time series]
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Map references [time series]
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims [time series]
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Natural hazards [time series]
hurricanes (July to October)
Natural resources [time series]
NEGL
Terrain [time series]
volcanic with mountainous interiors
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
19 September 1983
Country name [time series]
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 [time series]
SC
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Osbert W. LIBURD chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
Executive branch [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (202) 686-5740
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
constitutional monarchy
Independence [time series]
19 September 1983 (from UK)
International organization participation [time series]
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
Judicial branch [time series]
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts
Legal system [time series]
based on English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
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
Capital (National capital) [time series]
Basseterre
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
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
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal adult
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]
$NA
Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]
NA%
People
Age structure [time series]
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.)
Birth rate [time series]
22.87 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate [time series]
8.51 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
black
Infant mortality rate [time series]
17.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages [time series]
English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 67.58 years male: 64.52 years female: 70.82 years (1998 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% (1980 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Net migration rate [time series]
-2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population [time series]
42,291 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.23% (1998 est.)
Religions [time series]
Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Sex ratio [time series]
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.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.45 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]
none
Illicit drugs [time series]
transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US SAINT LUCIA
Transportation
Airports [time series]
2 (1997 est.)
Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 320 km paved: 136 km unpaved: 184 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
none
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Basseterre, Charlestown
Railways [time series]
total: 58 km narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)