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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.kn

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

45 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

10,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2003)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

25,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

10,000 (2004)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2003)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $89.7 million expenditures: $128.2 million (2003 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.28% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Current account balance [time series]

-$163 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$314 million (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4% of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy. Activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy and have contributed to the recent robust growth. Tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign exchange; about 341,800 tourists visited Nevis in 2005. The current government is constrained by a high debt burden, public debt reached 190% of GDP by the end of 2005, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

120.9 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

130 million kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$84 million (2006)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

US 66.3%, Canada 4.9%, Turkey 3.3% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$527 million (2007 est.)

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

$721 million (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 25.8% services: 70.7% (2001)

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

$13,900 (2007 est.)

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

3.3% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$383 million (2006)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners [time series]

US 47.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.3%, UK 5.6% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

18,170 (June 1995)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

950 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

917.8 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$782.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$97.31 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$688.6 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.5% (1997)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) land: 261 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical, 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 [time series]

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

17 20 N, 62 45 W

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 19.44% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 77.78% (2005)

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]

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 [time series]

hurricanes (July to October)

Natural resources [time series]

arable land

Terrain [time series]

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.02 cu km (2000)

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 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 [time series]

name: Basseterre geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS 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 [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996) 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 elections: 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]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

19 September 1983 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

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

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM [Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an associated state 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 try and separate from Saint Kitts.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 10,095 females age 16-49: 10,081 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 8,064 females age 16-49: 8,464 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 367 female: 352 (2008 est.)

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

Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force

Military expenditures [time series]

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 5,439/female 5,186) 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 13,018/female 12,968) 65 years and over: 8.1% (male 1,334/female 1,872) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

9.3% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups [time series]

predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 14.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.94 years male: 70.08 years female: 75.98 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 28.4 years male: 27.7 years female: 29.1 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

39,817 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.723% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2005)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.28 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 159 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 109, chemical tanker 7, container 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 121 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 5, Malaysia 1, Pakistan 3, Romania 1, Russia 19, Singapore 1, Spain 1, Syria 7, Turkey 35, Ukraine 9, UAE 18, UK 3, Yemen 1) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Basseterre

Railways [time series]

total: 50 km narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 320 km paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)