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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

the government operates a national TV 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 [time series]

total: 39,000 | percent of population: 75.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: good interisland and international connections | domestic: interisland links via ECFS; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in November 2004; fixed-line teledensity about 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 145 per 100 persons | international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by the East ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 17,433 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 76,583 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $370.4 million | expenditures: $333.3 million (2016 est.)

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

4.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2009) | 6.5% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 63

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.24% (31 December 2016 est.) | 9.3% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Current account balance [time series]

$-102 million (2016 est.) | $-86.1 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Debt - external [time series]

$187.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $168 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis depends on tourism; since the 1970s, tourism has replaced sugar as the economy’s traditional mainstay. Roughly 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009, but reduced tourism arrivals and foreign investment led to an economic contraction in the 2009-2013 period, and the economy returned to growth only in 2014. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. | Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after several decades of losses. To compensate for lost jobs, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as export-oriented manufacturing and offshore banking. The government has made notable progress in reducing its public debt, from 154% of GDP in 2011 to 83% in 2013, although it still faces one of the highest levels in the world, largely attributable to public enterprise losses. Saint Kitts and Nevis is among other countries in the Caribbean that supplement their economic activity through economic citizenship programs, whereby foreigners can obtain citizenship from Saint Kitts and Nevis by investing there.

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - | 2.7 (2016 est.) | 2.7 (2015 est.) | 2.7 (2014 est.) | 2.7 (2013 est.) | 2.7 (2012 est.)

Exports [time series]

$53.9 million (2016 est.) | $55.3 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

US 49.6%, Poland 15.2%, Turkey 11.6% (2016)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$900 million (2016 est.)

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

$1.463 billion (2016 est.) | $1.4 billion (2015 est.) | $1.321 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 199

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 1.1% | industry: 29% | services: 69.9% (2016 est.)

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

$26,100 (2016 est.) | $25,300 (2015 est.) | $24,600 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 73

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

3.1% (2016 est.) | 4.9% (2015 est.) | 5.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Gross national saving [time series]

18.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 16.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | 20.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$244.4 million (2016 est.) | $247 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners [time series]

US 56.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 6.8%, Cyprus 6.2%, Japan 4% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-0.4% (2016 est.) | -2.3% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Labor force [time series]

18,170 (June 1995 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$598.4 million (31 December 2011) | $598.4 million (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

65.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 70.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.077 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.121 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$704.8 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $728.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$210.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $231.2 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

41% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.5% (1997) | country comparison to the world: 59

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

300,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 187

Electricity - consumption [time series]

193.4 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

94.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

6.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

63,200 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity - production [time series]

208 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 5,232 | electrification - total population: 91% | electrification - urban areas: 100% | electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 190

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

1,900 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

1,907 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

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 | country comparison to the world: 212

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 [time series]

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m | highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage

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]

smallest country in the Americas and Western Hemisphere; 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]

8 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 23.1% | arable land 19.2%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 3.5% | forest: 42.3% | other: 34.6% (2011 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]

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) | volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts, and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis, are both volcanoes that are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south

Natural resources [time series]

arable land

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands

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 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)

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 14 years

Constitution [time series]

several previous (preindependence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983 (2016)

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 | etymology: Saint Kitts was, and still is, referred to as Saint Christopher and this name was well established by the 17th century (although who first applied the name is unclear); in the 17th century a common nickname for Christopher was Kit or Kitt, so the island began to be referred to as "Saint Kitt's Island" or just "Saint Kitts"; Nevis is derived from the original Spanish name "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" (Our Lady of the Snows) and refers to the white halo of clouds that generally wreathes Nevis Peak

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. Thelma Patricia PHILLIP-BROWNE (since 28 January 2016) | chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 | telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 | FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 | consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Samuel W.T. SEATON (since 2 September 2015); note - SEATON was acting Governor General from 20 May to 2 September 2015 | head of government: Prime Minister Timothy HARRIS (since 18 February 2015); Deputy Prime Minister Shawn RICHARDS (since 22 February 2015) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by 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]

federal parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; 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, 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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - 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 is itinerant, travelling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside at the member states with 2 assigned to Saint Kitts and Nevis; note - the ECSC in 2003 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as the final court of appeal on Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Kitts and Nevis is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice | judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; 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

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral National Assembly (14 seats; 11 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 3 appointed by the governor general; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 16 February 2015 (next to be held by 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - SKNLP 39.3%, PAM 27.9% CCM 13.0% NRP 10.8%, PLP 9.0%; seats by party - PAM 4, SKNLP 3, CCM 2, NRP 1, PLP 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, Royal Poinciana (Flamboyant) tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white

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

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Mark BRANTLEY] | Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY] | People's Action Movement or PAM [Shawn RICHARDS] | People's Labour Party or PLP [Dr. Timothy HARRIS] | 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 of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British began settlement in 1623. In 1967, the island territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla became an associated state of the UK with full internal autonomy. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. The remaining islands achieved independence in 1983 as Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1998, a referendum on Nevis to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority vote needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to separate from Saint Kitts.

Military and Security

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

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security, Labour, Immigration, and Social Security: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (2013)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20.32% (male 5,378/female 5,332) | 15-24 years: 14.54% (male 3,689/female 3,978) | 25-54 years: 44.6% (male 12,070/female 11,441) | 55-64 years: 11.9% (male 3,130/female 3,142) | 65 years and over: 8.64% (male 2,107/female 2,448) (2017 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Death rate [time series]

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.2% of GDP (2007) | country comparison to the world: 105

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]

5.1% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 137

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Languages [time series]

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.9 years | male: 73.5 years | female: 78.4 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Major urban areas - population [time series]

BASSETERRE (capital) 14,000 (2014)

Median age [time series]

total: 35 years | male: 35.2 years | female: 34.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

22.9% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 71

Population [time series]

52,715 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Population distribution [time series]

population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands

Population growth rate [time series]

0.73% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Religions [time series]

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Sanitation facility access [time series]

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

total: 14 years | male: 13 years | female: 16 years (2015)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.77 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 32.3% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.42% annual rate of change (2015-20 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 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 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 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 209

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

V4 (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 152 | by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 81, chemical tanker 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 | foreign-owned: 73 (Belgium 1, China 1, Egypt 1, Greece 2, India 2, Japan 2, Malaysia 1, Norway 3, Pakistan 1, Russia 13, Singapore 10, Turkey 18, UAE 8, UK 1, Ukraine 8, US 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 39

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Basseterre, Charlestown

Railways [time series]

total: 50 km | narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008) | country comparison to the world: 132

Roadways [time series]

total: 383 km | paved: 163 km | unpaved: 220 km (2002) | country comparison to the world: 202