_#_Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little
seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
_#_Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
_#_Natural resources: negligible
_#_Land use: arable land 22%; permanent crops 17%; meadows and
pastures 3%; forest and woodland 17%; other 41%
_#_Environment: subject to hurricanes (July to October)
_#_Note: located 320 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico
_*_People
_#_Population: 40,293 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 71 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent
_#_Nationality: noun--Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s); adjective--Kittsian,
Nevisian
_#_Religion: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
_#_Language: English
_#_Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever
attended school (1970)
_#_Labor force: 20,000 (1981)
_#_Organized labor: 6,700
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
_#_Type: constitutional monarchy
_#_Capital: Basseterre
_#_Administrative divisions: 14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town,
Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland,
Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint
Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter
Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity
Palmetto Point
_#_Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)
_#_Constitution: 19 September 1983
_#_Legal system: based on English common law
_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly
_#_Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL (since
19 September 1983, previously Governor General of the Associated State
since NA November 1981);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS
(since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the Associated State
since NA February 1980); Deputy Prime Minister Michael Oliver POWELL
(since NA)
_#_Political parties and leaders:
People's Action Movement (PAM), Kennedy SIMMONDS;
Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Lee MOORE;
Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Simeon DANIEL;
Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY
_#_Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
_#_Elections:
House of Assembly--last held 21 March 1989
(next to be held by 21 March 1994);
seats--(14 total, 11 elected) PAM 6, SKNLP 2, NRP 2, CCM 1
_#_Communists: none known
_#_Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IMF, INTERPOL, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of
Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim Erstein M. EDWARDS;
Chancery at Suite 540, 2501 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone (202) 833-3550;