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.
Geography
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
comparison ranking: total 211
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% (2022 est.)
arable land: 19.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 42.3% (2022 est.)
other: 34.6% (2022 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 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
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
People and Society
Population
total: 55,133 (2024 est.)
male: 27,599
female: 27,534
comparison rankings: total 207; female 207; male 207
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)
Religions
Protestant 75.6% (includes Anglican 16.6%, Methodist 15.8%, Pentecostal 10.8%, Church of God 7.4%, Baptist 5.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Wesleyan Holiness 5.3%, Moravian 4.8%, Evangelical 2.1%, Brethren 1.7%, Presbyterian 0.3%), Roman Catholic 5.9%, Hindu 1.8%, Jehovah’s Witness 1.4%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other 5%, none 8.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 46.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 28.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 18.7 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.3 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 38.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 38.8 years
female: 38.3 years
comparison ranking: total 72
Population growth rate
0.56% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 147
Birth rate
11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 153
Death rate
7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 106
Net migration rate
1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 64
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.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 147
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.2 years
female: 80.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 89
Total fertility rate
1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 146
Gross reproduction rate
0.87 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 98.3% of population
rural: 98.3% of population
total: 98.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.7% of population
rural: 1.7% of population
total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)
Health expenditure
6.2% of GDP (2021)
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.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 87.3% of population
rural: 87.3% of population
total: 87.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 12.7% of population
rural: 12.7% of population
total: 12.7% of population (2017 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
22.9% (2016)
comparison ranking: 71
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.)
comparison ranking: total 36
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.2% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
11% national budget (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 130
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 19 years (2015)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage
Environment – international 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% (2022 est.)
arable land: 19.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 42.3% (2022 est.)
other: 34.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 31.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 8.05 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.24 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,892 tons (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 200,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
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
note: Nevis is pronounced NEE-vis
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
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
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 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
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:
[email protected]
Embassy 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 hoist 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 red; 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 colors
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
The coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis features a Carib that represents the original inhabitants of the islands, and a fleur-de-lis and rose that represent the French and English who arrived in the 1620s. 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
name: “Oh Land of Beauty!”
lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES
note: adopted 1983
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
Economy
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)
$1.422 billion (2023 est.)
$1.39 billion (2022 est.)
$1.258 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 204
Real GDP growth rate
2.28% (2023 est.)
10.52% (2022 est.)
0.48% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 134
Real GDP per capita
$30,400 (2023 est.)
$29,800 (2022 est.)
$26,900 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 78
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.055 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.6% (2023 est.)
2.7% (2022 est.)
1.2% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 117
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1.4% (2023 est.)
industry: 20.2% (2023 est.)
services: 66.2% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 54; industry 137; agriculture 174
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 41.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 25.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 30.8% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 62.5% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -60.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate
-2.4% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 184
Remittances
3.46% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.83% of GDP (2022 est.)
4.32% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $262 million (2020 est.)
expenditures: $236.444 million (2020 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 73
Taxes and other revenues
15% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 137
Current account balance
-$122.386 million (2023 est.)
-$111.685 million (2022 est.)
-$28.782 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 100
Exports
$579.568 million (2023 est.)
$542.983 million (2022 est.)
$401.223 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 192
Exports – partners
Malta 49%, USA 21%, Turkey 7%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5%, Guyana 3% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$669.168 million (2023 est.)
$606.856 million (2022 est.)
$407.402 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 199
Imports – partners
USA 50%, Italy 11%, China 8%, Japan 2%, UK 2% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, ships, cars, jewelry, poultry (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$294.748 million (2024 est.)
$286.075 million (2023 est.)
$293.98 million (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 181
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
2.7 (2024 est.)
2.7 (2023 est.)
2.7 (2022 est.)
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)
Energy
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.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 32; consumption 190; installed generating capacity 189
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.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 201
Energy consumption per capita
81.454 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 63
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 16,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 180
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 56,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 206
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.)
comparison ranking: total 169
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V4
Airports
2 (2025)
comparison ranking: 205
Heliports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 150
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
comparison ranking: total 53
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
Military and security forces
St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (SKNDF); Regular Force, Coast Guard Force (SKNDF Coast Guard), Reserve Force, Cadet Force
Ministry 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 (2024)
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)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs
