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]

1 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

9,500 (1993 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $64.1 million expenditures: $73.3 million, including capital expenditures of $10.4 million (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$56 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$5.5 million (1995)

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, but the vote on cessation failed in August 1998. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

81 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

81 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$43.7 million (1997)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US 68.5%, UK 22.3%, Caricom nations 5.5% (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$235 million (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5.5% industry: 22.5% services: 72% (1996)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$6,000 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

6.3% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$129.6 million (1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

US 42.4%, Caricom nations 17.2%, UK 11.3% (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11.3% (1997)

Labor force [time series]

18,172 (June 1995)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 69%, manufacturing 31%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

4% (1997 est.)

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

Natural hazards [time series]

hurricanes (July to October)

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL

Terrain [time series]

volcanic with mountainous interiors

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

Capital [time series]

Basseterre

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 Edwards ERSTEIN chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (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 monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the 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

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, OPANAL, OPCW, 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's Action Movement or PAM

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force, 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%

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 7,178; female 6,826) 15-64 years: 61% (male 13,226; female 13,083) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,020; female 1,505) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

22.6 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.15 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.94 years male: 64.87 years female: 71.21 years (1999 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]

-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

42,838 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.34% (1999 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 total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US

Airports [time series]

2 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 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)