Flag of KN

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Federal Parliamentary Democracy Under A Constitutional MonarchyPop55KGDP (PPP)$1.5BCI70BetaCP0.0Beta

Overview

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.

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, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain
volcanic with mountainous interiors

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
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
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
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
Natural resources
arable land
Area comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Population distribution
population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery 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
African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)

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 clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery 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.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

Head of StateCharles IIIExecutive of Saint Kitts and NeviscabinetNational AssemblyLower chamber · 16 seatsHead of GovernmentTerrance Drew
ExecutiveLegislative
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 red

meaning: 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

Capital

Name
Basseterre
Etymology
the French name translates as "low land" in English; the reference is probably to the city's location in a valley
Time difference
UTC-4 (1 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
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

Country Name

Note
note: Nevis is pronounced NEE-vis
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
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
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

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
Subordinate courts
magistrates' courts
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

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; 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
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 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
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

stkittsnevis@embskn.com

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 have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
International organisations
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 submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS · LEGISLATURE

National Assembly

16 seats · hover a seat for the party
ROSTRUMMAJORITY 9
Total seats
16
Majority line
9
Largest party
Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
Parties
4
All political parties4 parties · 16 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

  • Charles III

    • Head of StateSince 2022
  • Terrance Drew

    • Head of GovernmentSince 2022

Economy

Budget

Note
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
Revenues
$262 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures
$281.889 million (2020 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$542.983 million (2022 est.)
Note
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022
$542.983 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$579.568 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$504.391 million (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$606.856 million (2022 est.)
Note
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
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, clothing, footwear, beverages

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled)
62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Note
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2017
62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Remittances

Note
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
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
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
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$34,847
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
0.3%
Note
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
-$136.8M
Note
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
3.6%
Note
note: annual % change based on 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)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$1.465 billion (2024 est.)
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
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

Note
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
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

Note
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
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
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

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.)

Transport

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
bulk carrier 22, container ship 16, general cargo 85, oil tanker 59, other 159
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V4

Environment

Climate
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to 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 silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage

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

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
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 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 equipment inventories and acquisitions
the SKNDF is lightly armed with equipment from Belgium, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 200 active Defense Forces (2024)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees
5 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index70.0 / 100as of 2024-Q448 / 1902024-Q4
Freedom House StatusPartly Free (92/100)as of 2024-Q42024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 20242024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Saint Kitts and Nevis — vintage 2026-Q1: Saint Kitts and Nevis factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/saint-kitts-and-nevis
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata