Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Basseterre
- Population
- 55,434 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
- Government
- federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Languages
- English (official)
- Ethnic Groups
- African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)
- Currency
- East Caribbean dollars (XCD)
- Life Expectancy
- 77.6 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .kn
- Climate
- tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
- Terrain
- volcanic with mountainous interiors
- Natural Resources
- arable land
- Major Exports
- ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
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.