Saint Kitts and Nevis

Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

LOCATION

Background: Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British and French began settlement in 1623. During the 17th century, Saint Kitts became the premier base for British and French expansion into the Caribbean. The French ceded the territory to the UK in 1713. At the turn of the 18th century, Saint Kitts was the richest British Crown Colony per capita in the Caribbean, a result of the sugar trade. Although small in size and separated by only 3 km (2 mi) of water, Saint Kitts and Nevis were viewed and governed as different states until the late-19th century, when the British forcibly unified them along with the island of Anguilla. 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 necessary two-thirds majority.

Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
land: 261 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claims: 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
Climate: tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation: highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 42.3% (2023 est.)
other: 34.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 8 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October) volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis are part of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note: smallest country in the Western Hemisphere in terms of both area and population; the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide (9-mi-wide) channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of baseball-bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its ball-shaped namesake island

Population: total: 55,434 (2025 est.)
male: 27,748
female: 27,686
Nationality: noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups: African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)
Languages: English (official)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.2% (male 5,314/female 5,277)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 18,944/female 18,575)
65 years and over: 12.7% (2024 est.) (male 3,341/female 3,682)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48.1 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 28.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 20 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 5 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 39.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 38.8 years
female: 38.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.53% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands
Urbanization: urban population: 31.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 14,000 BASSETERRE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 74 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.2 years
female: 80.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.87 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.09 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 8.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 3.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 11% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 19 years (2015 est.)
male: 18 years (2015 est.)
female: 20 years (2015 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage
International environmental agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Land use: agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 42.3% (2023 est.)
other: 34.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 31.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,900 tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 15.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 200,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS visited the islands in 1493 and named one for his own patron saint; a common nickname for Christopher during the following centuries was Kit or Kitt, and Saint Kitts is still referred to as Saint Christopher; the name of Nevis is said to derive from the original Spanish name "Las Nieves" (The Snows) and refers to its cloud-topped mountain
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Basseterre
geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the French name translates as "low land" in English; the reference is probably to the city's location in a valley
Administrative divisions: 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
Legal system: English common law
Constitution: history: several previous (pre-independence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 14 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general
Legislative branch: legislature name: National Assembly
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 16 (11 directly elected; 4 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 8/5/2022
parties elected and seats per party: St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) (6); Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) (3); Peoples Labour Party (PLP) (1); People's Action Movement (PAM) (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch: highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and 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 travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; 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
Political parties: Concerned Citizens Movement or CCMNevis Reformation Party or NRPPeople's Action Movement or PAMPeople's Labour Party or PLPSaint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023)
chancery: 1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
email address and website: stkittsnevis@embskn.comEmbassy of St.Kitts and Nevis to the USA – and Permanent Mission to the OAS (embassydc.gov.kn)
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, 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
Independence: 19 September 1983 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Flag: description: divided diagonally from the lower left side by a broad black band with two five-pointed white stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, and the lower is redmeaning: green stands for the island's fertility, red for the struggles of the people from slavery, yellow for year-round sunshine, and black for the people's African heritage; the white stars stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis but can also express hope and liberty, or independence and optimism
National symbol(s): brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree
National color(s): green, yellow, red, black, white
National coat of arms: the coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis features a Carib who represents the original inhabitants of the islands, and a fleur-de-lis and rose that represent the French and English who arrived in the 1620; the shield also features the poinciana (the national flower) and a traditional boat; three hands hold the torch, which represents the quest for freedom: the hand of an African, a European, and a person of mixed ethnicity; pelicans (the national bird) support the shield, with a sugarcane plant and a coconut tree that symbolize the land
National anthem(s): title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: in use since 1745
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

Economic overview: high-income, tourism-based Caribbean OECS economy; better debt balancing; CARICOM and ECCU member; growing offshore financial and telecommunications hub; environmentally fragile; unique citizenship-driven growth model
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.465 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.448 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.388 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 10.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $31,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $29,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.067 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.2% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.3% (2024 est.)
industry: 21.1% (2024 est.)
services: 65.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -2.7% (2024 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 3.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $262 million (2020 est.)
expenditures: $281.889 million (2020 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2017: 62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: -$169.221 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$122.386 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$111.685 million (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $504.391 million (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $579.568 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $542.983 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Malta 49%, USA 21%, Turkey 7%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5%, Guyana 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $642.934 million (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $669.168 million (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $606.856 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 50%, Italy 11%, China 8%, Japan 2%, UK 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, jewelry, poultry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $294.748 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $286.075 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $293.98 million (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 72,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 182.455 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 39.522 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 95% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 81.454 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 16,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 56,600 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: national state-operated TV network that broadcasts on 2 channels; cable subscription available for local and international channels; national state-operated radio network; mix of state-owned and privately owned broadcasters with about 15 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .kn
Internet users: percent of population: 76% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 22,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V4
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways: total: 50 km (2008)
narrow gauge: 50 km (2008) 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists
Merchant marine: total: 341 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 22, container ship 16, general cargo 85, oil tanker 59, other 159
Ports: total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 2
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Basseterre, Charlestown

Military and security forces: St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (SKNDF); Regular Force, Coast Guard Force (SKNDF Coast Guard), Reserve Force, Cadet ForceMinistry of National Security: the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 200 active Defense Forces (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SKNDF is lightly armed with equipment from Belgium, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2025)
Military - note: SKNDF's missions include protecting the country's territorial integrity, assisting the police in combating the illegal narcotic trade and other crimes, and providing humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; the force also has a regional role through the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS); St. Kitts joined the RSS in 1984; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 5 (2024 est.)