Caribbean
Country Profiles
Saint Kitts and
Nevis
The two islands that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis are
separated by a three-kilometre wide channel called The Narrows.
In a referendum in 1998, the island of Nevis chose not to secede
from the country.
Saint Kitts and Nevis has an area of 262 square kilometres.
The islands are volcanic with mountainous interiors. The climate
is tropical with a rainy season from May to November. The country
is vulnerable to hurricanes, particularly from July to October,
as well as earthquakes, volcanoes and floods.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a constitutional monarchy within the
British Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of
state. The prime minister and head of government is Dr. Denzil
Douglas. The next elections will be held by July 2005. The
country’s capital is Basseterre and there are 14 administrative
parishes.
|
People
|
|
|
Human Development Index Ranking (out of 173)
|
44
|
|
Population (millions)
|
(.)
|
|
Population growth rate (%)
|
-0.6
|
|
Adult literacy rate (% age 15 and above)
|
97.8
|
|
Health
|
|
|
Life expectancy
|
70.0
|
|
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)
|
21
|
|
People living with HIV/AIDS (% adults 15-49)
|
--
|
|
Population using improved water sources (%)
|
98
|
|
Population using adequate sanitation facilities
(%)
|
96
|
|
Economy
|
|
|
GDP (US$ billions)
|
0.3
|
|
Population living below national poverty line (%)
|
---
|
Source: United Nation Human Development Reports,
Human Development Indicators 2002
--- indicates information not available
|
