CapitalBasseterre
Population55,434
Area261 km²
GDP per capita$31,300
LanguagesEnglish
CurrencyEast Caribbean dollars
Life Expectancy77.6 yr
Governmenta federal parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Introduction
Background
The Carib Indians inhabited the islands of the West Indies for several centuries prior to the commencement of British and French colonization in 1623. Throughout the 17th century, Saint Kitts emerged as the foremost hub for British and French endeavors in the Caribbean. The French relinquished control of the territory to the United Kingdom in 1713. By the early 18th century, Saint Kitts was recognized as the wealthiest British Crown Colony per capita in the Caribbean, primarily due to the lucrative sugar trade. Despite their proximity, separated by merely 3 km (2 mi) of water, Saint Kitts and Nevis were administered as distinct entities until the late 19th century, when the British forcefully merged them along with Anguilla. In 1967, the territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla was granted the status of an associated state of the UK, enjoying complete internal autonomy. In 1971, Anguilla staged a rebellion and was permitted to separate. The remaining islands declared their independence in 1983, adopting the name Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1998, a referendum held in Nevis regarding its separation from Saint Kitts did not achieve the required two-thirds majority.
Geography
Area
land
261 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
Climate
tropical climate, moderated by consistent sea breezes; minimal seasonal temperature fluctuations; wet season runs from May to November
Terrain
characterized by volcanic terrain and mountainous landscapes
Land use
other
34.6% (2023 est.)
forest
42.3% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
situated in the Caribbean, these islands lie approximately one-third of the distance from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Sea
Coastline
135 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Irrigated land
8 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
hurricane season occurs from July to October
volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis form part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which stretches from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note
the smallest nation in the Western Hemisphere by both land area and population; the two volcanic islands are divided by a channel known as The Narrows, which is 3 km (9 mi) wide; at the southern end of the baseball-bat-shaped Saint Kitts is the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak is centrally located on its spherical namesake island
Natural resources
land suitable for agriculture
Area - comparative
1.5 times larger than Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Population distribution
population is primarily concentrated in small towns located on the outskirts of both islands
People & Society
Languages
English (official)
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
total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.91 male(s)/female
Birth rate
11.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
38.8 years
total
39.1 years (2025 est.)
female
38.3 years
Population
male
27,748
total
55,434 (2025 est.)
female
27,686
Nationality
noun
Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective
Kittitian, Nevisian
Urbanization
urban population
31.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Ethnic groups
92.5% of the population is of African descent, 3% is mixed, 2.1% is White, 1.5% is East Indian, 0.6% belongs to other ethnicities, and 0.3% remains unspecified (estimates from 2001)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
48.1 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
28.1 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
20 (2025 est.)
Physician density
3.09 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
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.)
Net migration rate
1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
4.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
11% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
10.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.53% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.87 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
population concentrations are present in the minor towns situated on the outskirts of both islands
Life expectancy at birth
male
75.2 years
female
80.1 years
total population
77.6 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
74 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
1.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
8.84 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.)
Major urban areas - population
14,000 BASSETERRE (capital) (2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
22.9% (2016)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
18 years (2015 est.)
total
19 years (2015 est.)
female
20 years (2015 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical, moderated by persistent sea breezes; minimal seasonal temperature fluctuation; wet season (May through November)
Land use
other
34.6% (2023 est.)
forest
42.3% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization
urban population
31.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
32,900 tons (2024 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion and sedimentation impact marine ecosystems on coral reefs; water contamination due to unregulated sewage discharge
Total water withdrawal
municipal
15.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
200,000 cubic meters (2022 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.)
Total renewable water resources
24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
Government
Flag
description: the flag is divided diagonally from the lower left corner by a wide black stripe that features two five-pointed white stars; this black stripe is bordered by yellow; the upper triangle is green while the lower triangle is red
meaning: green symbolizes the island's fertility, red represents the struggles of the people against slavery, yellow denotes the perpetual sunshine, and black signifies the African heritage of the populace; the white stars represent the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis and can also embody hope and freedom, or independence and optimism
Capital
name
Basseterre
etymology
the French term translates to "low land" in English; this likely alludes to the city's position within a valley
time difference
UTC-4 (one hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
17 18 N, 62 43 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
14 years
Constitution
history
multiple previous versions (prior to independence); the most recent was presented on 22 June 1983 and took effect on 23 June 1983
amendment process
initiated by the National Assembly; its passage necessitates the approval of at least a two-thirds majority of the total Assembly members and the consent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional elements such as the federation's sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly require a referendum with at least two-thirds of the votes in favor from both Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name
former
Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
etymology
explorer Christopher COLUMBUS arrived at the islands in 1493 and named one after his patron saint; throughout the subsequent centuries, a common nickname for Christopher was Kit or Kitt, and Saint Kitts continues to be referred to as Saint Christopher; the name Nevis is believed to stem from the original Spanish name "Las Nieves" (The Snows), referencing its mountain crowned with clouds
conventional long form
Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Independence
19 September 1983 (from the UK)
Legal system
English common law
Government type
a federal parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) serves as the highest court within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; headquartered in St. Lucia, the ECSC comprises the Court of Appeal, led by the chief justice and four judges, and the High Court, which has 18 judges; the Court of Appeal visits member states periodically to adjudicate appeals originating from the High Court and lower courts; it is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
subordinate courts
magistrates' courts
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges are selected by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an autonomous entity of judicial officials; justices of the Court of Appeal are appointed for life but must retire at age 65, while High Court judges are also appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister
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)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general typically designates the leader of the majority party or coalition as prime minister; the deputy prime minister is likewise appointed by the governor general
National holiday
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red, black, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
Political parties
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM
Nevis Reformation Party or NRP
People's Action Movement or PAM
People's Labour Party or PLP
Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
16 (11 directly elected; 4 appointed)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
National Assembly
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
8/5/2022
expected date of next election
October 2027
percentage of women in chamber
31.3%
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)
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
in use since 1745
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree
National coat of arms
the coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis depicts a Carib, symbolizing the islands' original inhabitants, alongside a fleur-de-lis and rose representing the French and English settlers of the 1620s; the shield also includes the poinciana (the national flower) and a traditional boat; three hands grasp the torch, symbolizing the pursuit of freedom: one hand from an African, one from a European, and one from an individual of mixed heritage; pelicans (the national bird) support the shield, accompanied by a sugarcane plant and a coconut tree that represent the land
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 686-5740
chancery
1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 686-2636
chief of mission
Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023)
consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
Embassy of St.Kitts and Nevis to the USA – and Permanent Mission to the OAS (embassydc.gov.kn)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the US does not maintain an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is also 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
International law organization participation
has not provided a declaration of ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$262 million (2020 est.)
expenditures
$281.889 million (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$542.983 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$579.568 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$504.391 million (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$606.856 million (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$669.168 million (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$642.934 million (2024 est.)
Industries
tourism, cotton, salt, copra, apparel, footwear, beverages
Public debt
Public debt 2017
62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
3.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
2.7 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
2.7 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
a high-income economy in the Caribbean OECS, reliant on tourism; improved debt management; a member of CARICOM and ECCU; an expanding hub for offshore finance and telecommunications; environmentally vulnerable; features a distinctive citizenship-driven growth model
Exports - partners
Malta 49%, USA 21%, Turkey 7%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5%, Guyana 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 50%, Italy 11%, China 8%, Japan 2%, UK 2% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$29,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$31,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$31,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
10.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes (2023)
Exports - commodities
ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, cars, jewelry, poultry (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$111.685 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$122.386 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$169.221 million (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
15% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.067 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.2% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
3.6% (2023 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-2.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.388 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.448 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.465 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$293.98 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$286.075 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$294.748 million (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
21.1% (2024 est.)
services
65.5% (2024 est.)
agriculture
1.3% (2024 est.)
Energy
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
182.455 million kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
72,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
39.522 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
81.454 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
95% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
76% (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
a state-run television network that operates on two channels; offers cable subscriptions for both domestic and international programming; a national government-operated radio network; a combination of state-owned and privately owned media entities with approximately 15 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code
.kn
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.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
22,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
47 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Basseterre, Charlestown
very small
2
total ports
2 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
2
Airports
2 (2025)
Railways
total
50 km (2008)
narrow gauge
50 km (2008) 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists
Heliports
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
341 (2023)
by type
22 bulk carriers, 16 container ships, 85 general cargo vessels, 59 oil tankers, 159 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V4
Military & Security
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)
Military and security forces
The Defense Force of St. Kitts and Nevis (SKNDF) comprises the Regular Force, the Coast Guard Force (SKNDF Coast Guard), the Reserve Force, and the Cadet Force.
The Ministry of National Security oversees the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Individuals may join the military voluntarily at the age of 18 for both genders (those under 18 require written consent from a parent or guardian); there is no conscription in place (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The SKNDF is equipped with light weaponry sourced from Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 200 active Defense Forces (2024)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
5 (2024 est.)
