Capital:
name: Basseterre
geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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
Independence:
19 September 1983 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution:
19 September 1983
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
(since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly
elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a Court of Appeal and
a High Court; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court
reside in Saint Kitts and Nevis); member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation
Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM
[Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS,
OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band
bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in
yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
Economy ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy - overview:
The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis is heavily dependent upon
tourism revenues, which has replaced sugar, the traditional mainstay
of the economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the
government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4%
of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government
has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and
to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as tourism,
export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking. Economic growth
was above average for Latin America from 2004 to 2006, but has since
slowed. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, the St.
Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and
shifts in tourism demand. The current government is constrained by a
high public debt burden equivalent to nearly 185% of GDP by the end
of 2006, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$759.5 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
$742 million (2007 est.)
$735.8 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$546 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
0.9% (2007 est.)
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,100 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$18,800 (2007 est.)
$18,700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)
Labor force:
18,170 (June 1995)
country comparison to the world: 202
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1997)
country comparison to the world: 57
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 63
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.69% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
8.89% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$107.2 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
$97.31 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$680.6 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
$688.6 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$790.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 113
$782.4 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
$439.7 million (31 December 2007)
$304.5 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Industries:
tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Electricity - consumption:
120.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - imports:
1,225 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Current account balance:
-$163 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Exports:
$84 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 197
Exports - commodities:
machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 65.7%, Azerbaijan 7.5%, Canada 6% (2008)
Imports:
$383 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 187
Imports - commodities:
machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 46.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.8%, UK 4.1% (2008)
Debt - external:
$314 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 174
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,400 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 194
Telephones - mobile cellular:
80,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 187
Telephone system:
general assessment: good interisland and international connections
domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable;
construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in
November 2004
international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by
the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean
fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2003)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2003)
Internet country code:
.kn
Internet hosts:
53 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 206
Internet users:
16,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 195
Transportation ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Airports:
2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 206
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Railways:
total: 50 km
country comparison to the world: 131
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)
Roadways:
total: 383 km
country comparison to the world: 197
paved: 163 km
unpaved: 220 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 159
country comparison to the world: 40
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 109, chemical tanker 7, container 1,
liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker
19, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 121 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 3, Finland
1, Greece 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 5, Malaysia
1, Pakistan 3, Romania 1, Russia 19, Singapore 1, Spain 1, Syria 7,
Turkey 35, Ukraine 9, UAE 18, UK 3, Yemen 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Basseterre
Military ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard),
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,095
females age 16-49: 10,081 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,159
females age 16-49: 8,517 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 376
female: 362 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Disputes - international:
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves
Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which
permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; some money-laundering activity
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Saint Lucia (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Lucia
Background:
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested
between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th
centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to
the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its
plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island,
dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was
granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Geography ::Saint Lucia
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 616 sq km
country comparison to the world: 193
land: 606 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
158 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, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to
April, rainy season May to August
Terrain:
volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs,
geothermal potential
Land use:
arable land: 6.45%
permanent crops: 22.58%
other: 70.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.01
per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped
peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights
of the Caribbean
People ::Saint Lucia
Population:
160,267 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.4% (male 20,035/female 19,021)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 51,593/female 54,843)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 6,668/female 8,107) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.8 years
male: 28.7 years
female: 30.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.416% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Birth rate:
15.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Death rate:
6.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Net migration rate:
-4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Urbanization:
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 12.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.45 years
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 73.78 years
female: 79.27 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.84 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:
black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified
3.1% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%,
Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%,
other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 29
Government ::Saint Lucia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery,
Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:
22 February 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:
22 February 1979
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since
September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9
September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office 7 September
2007
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members
appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice
of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with
religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly
(17 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next to
be held in December 2011)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP
50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consists of a High Court and a
Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; three judges of the Supreme
Court reside in Saint Lucia); member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or
SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth
ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE];
United Workers Party or UWP [Stephenson KING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LOUIS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to
Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:
blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the
upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy ::Saint Lucia
Economy - overview:
The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and
investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism
industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006,
attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Although
crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for
export, tourism provides Saint Lucia's main source of income and the
industry is the island's biggest employer. The tourism sector is
likely to face declining revenues with the global economic downturn
as US and European travel declines. The manufacturing sector is the
most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is
trying to revitalize the banana industry, although recent hurricanes
have caused exports to contract. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a
variety of external shocks including volatile tourism receipts,
natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. The public
debt-to-GDP ratio is about 70% and high debt servicing obligations
constrain the KING administration's ability to respond to adverse
external shocks. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though
unemployment needs to be reduced.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.774 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
$1.762 billion (2007 est.)
$1.733 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$987 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
1.7% (2007 est.)
5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,100 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$11,100 (2007 est.)
$11,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 15%
services: 80% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
79,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 178
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 62
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.08% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 102
8.34% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$261.3 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
$264.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$800.1 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 100
$720.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.378 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 99
$1.217 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Industries:
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated
cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
325 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - consumption:
302.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - imports:
2,747 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Current account balance:
-$199 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Exports:
$288 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 176
Exports - commodities:
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
UK 23.6%, US 19.3%, South Korea 16.6%, Antigua and Barbuda 5.9%,
Dominica 5.8%, Barbados 5.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8% (2008)
Imports:
$791 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 178
Imports - commodities:
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels