Saint Kitts and Nevis

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

17 20 N, 62 45 W

Central America and the Caribbean

1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

135 km

tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

volcanic with mountainous interiors

arable land

8 sq km (2012)

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

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

African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)

English (official)

0.53% (2025 est.)

11.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

14,000 BASSETERRE (capital) (2018)

74 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.87 (2025 est.)

3.09 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

4.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

22.9% (2016)

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

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

English common law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

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

19 September 1983 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree

green, yellow, red, black, white

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

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

$1.067 billion (2024 est.)

coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes (2023)

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

-2.7% (2024 est.)

15% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Malta 49%, USA 21%, Turkey 7%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5%, Guyana 3% (2023)

ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)

USA 50%, Italy 11%, China 8%, Japan 2%, UK 2% (2023)

refined petroleum, ships, cars, jewelry, poultry (2023)

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)

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V4

2 (2025)

1 (2025)

estimated 200 active Defense Forces (2024)

the SKNDF is lightly armed with equipment from Belgium, the UK, and the US (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2025)

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)