Saint Kitts and Nevis
Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Updated
Population
46,922
2025 · World Bank
GDP
$1.18B
2025 · World Bank
GDP per capita
$25,223
2025 · World Bank
Area
261 km²
mledoze/countries reference dataset
Capital
Basseterre
Median age
36.2 yrs
2025 · UN WPP
Location
- Capital
- Basseterre
- Region
- Central America and the Caribbean
- Subregion
- Caribbean
- Area
- 261 km²
- Languages
- English
Leadership
- Head of state
- Charles III
- In office since September 8, 2022
- Head of government
- Terrance Drew
- In office since January 1, 2022
Wikidata (CC0), checked August 11, 2026. Frozen Factbook mirrors still list the officeholders of January 2026.
Then and now
The CIA World Factbook stopped updating in January 2026. This is what has changed since its final edition.
| Indicator | Factbook, final edition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,4342025 | 46,9222025 | -15.4% |
| GDP (nominal) | $1.07B2024 | $1.18B2025 | +10.9% |
Trends since 2000
World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
6 facts about Saint Kitts and Nevis
- 01 Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 207 of 238 in population, with 46,922 people as of 2025.
- 02 Its economy produced $1.18B in 2025, or $25,223 per person.
- 03 Saint Kitts and Nevis has no land borders.
- 04 Population has grown 4% since 2000, from 45,248 to 46,922.
- 05 Prices sit at about 69% of United States levels (World Bank PPP data, 2025).
- 06 77% of the population uses the internet (2024).
Reference
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD)
- Calling code
- +1869
- Internet TLD
- .kn
- Demonym
- Kittitian or Nevisian
- ISO codes
- KN · KNA · 659
The Factbook archive 125 fields · 11 categories
The complete World Factbook entry for Saint Kitts and Nevis: 125 fields and 185 sub-entries across 11 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition; the live figures above supersede the fast-moving numbers in it. Last CIA update: January 18, 2026.
Introduction 1 field
- 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 17 fields
- 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 kmwater: 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 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental 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 mlowest 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
People and Society 27 fields
- Population
- total: 55,434 (2025 est.)male: 27,748female: 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 yearsfemale: 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)/female0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/femaletotal 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 birthsfemale: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.)male: 75.2 yearsfemale: 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.)
Environment 10 fields
- 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, Whalingsigned, 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.)
Government 24 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevisconventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevisformer: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevisetymology: 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: Basseterregeographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 Wtime 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 1983amendment 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: yescitizenship by descent only: yesdual citizenship recognized: yesresidency 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 ministerelection/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 Assemblylegislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 16 (11 directly elected; 4 appointed)electoral system: plurality/majorityscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 8/5/2022parties 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 Justicejudge 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 62subordinate 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 20036telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740email 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 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 - 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: "O Land of Beauty!"lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGEShistory: adopted 1983title: "God Save the King"lyrics/music: unknownhistory: in use since 1745
- National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
Economy 23 fields
- 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.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate - 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)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage - Industries
- tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
- Industrial production growth rate
- -2.7% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency - 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.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP - 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)
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
- 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)
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
- 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.)
Energy 5 fields
- 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.)
Communications 6 fields
- 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.)
Transportation 6 fields
- 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: 0medium: 0small: 0very small: 2ports with oil terminals: 2key ports: Basseterre, Charlestown
Military and Security 5 fields
- 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 (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)
Transnational Issues 1 field
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees: 5 (2024 est.)
Frequently asked
- What is the population of Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2025?
- Saint Kitts and Nevis has a population of 46,922 (46,922) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.
- What is the capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis?
- The capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis is Basseterre.
- How large is the economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis?
- Saint Kitts and Nevis's GDP is $1.18B (2025, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $25,223 per capita.
- Who leads Saint Kitts and Nevis?
- Head of state: Charles III (since September 8, 2022). Head of government: Terrance Drew (since January 1, 2022). Source: Wikidata, checked August 11, 2026.
Saint Kitts and Nevis