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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

the government operates a national television 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 [time series]

.kn

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

51 (2010) country comparison to the world: 210

Internet users [time series]

17,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 197

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; fixed-line teledensity about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 160 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

20,600 (2010) country comparison to the world: 191

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

84,600 (2010) country comparison to the world: 192

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $185.2 million expenditures: $185.2 million (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

0% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 55 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

8.625% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 8.775% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$140.5 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 -$184.8 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$215.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $226.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis is heavily dependent upon tourism revenues, which has replaced sugar, the traditional mainstay of the 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, such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking. More than 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. The current government is constrained by one of the world's highest public debt burdens equivalent to roughly 185% of GDP, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

120.9 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

130 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2010) 2.7 (2009) 2.7 (2005) 2.7 (2004) 2.7 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$61.7 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $57.56 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

US 56.5%, Canada 9.2%, Azerbaijan 5% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$531 million (2010 est.)

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

$684 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 $694.6 million (2009 est.) $768.2 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2.6% industry: 22.8% services: 74.6% (2010 est.)

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

$13,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $14,000 (2009 est.) $15,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

-1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204 -9.6% (2009 est.) 4.6% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$292.7 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $266 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners [time series]

US 39.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, Poland 4.7%, Barbados 4% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

37% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Labor force [time series]

18,170 (June 1995) country comparison to the world: 208

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$623.9 million (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 108 $648 million (31 December 2009) $595.2 million (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - consumption [time series]

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - imports [time series]

1,699 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

185% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$168.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $136.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$879.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $823.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$703.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $703.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$113.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $111.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

34.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.5% (1997) country comparison to the world: 41

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) country comparison to the world: 211 land: 261 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

one and a half 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]

0.2 sq km (2008)

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 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 [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 (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 (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; 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 [time series]

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

19 September 1983 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, 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 [time series]

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 [time series]

English common law

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 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(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Oh Land of Beauty!" lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES note: adopted 1983

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

National symbol(s) [time series]

brown pelican

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]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 13,506 females age 16-49: 13,089 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 10,742 females age 16-49: 10,923 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 380 female: 422 (2010 est.)

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

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 [time series]

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22.8% (male 5,701/female 5,755) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 17,740/female 17,297) 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 1,681/female 2,140) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.07 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Death rate [time series]

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 99% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 1% of population total: 1% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

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

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]

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

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

Hospital bed density [time series]

6 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 25

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 152 male: 6.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.6 years country comparison to the world: 96 male: 72.25 years female: 77.01 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

BASSETERRE (capital) 13,000 (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 32 years male: 32.1 years female: 32 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.0952 physicians/1,000 population (2000) country comparison to the world: 99

Population [time series]

50,314 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Population growth rate [time series]

0.823% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Religions [time series]

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Sanitation facility access [time series]

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 (2008)

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

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.79 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 32% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 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 (2010) country comparison to the world: 205

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 160 country comparison to the world: 41 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 92, chemical tanker 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 3, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 94 (Bahrain 1, Belgium 1, China 1, Estonia 3, Italy 1, Japan 3, Kuwait 3, Latvia 2, Malaysia 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 3, Russia 11, Singapore 5, Syria 5, Turkey 22, UAE 17, UK 2, Ukraine 10, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Basseterre, Charlestown

Railways [time series]

total: 50 km country comparison to the world: 131 narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 383 km country comparison to the world: 199 paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)