Saint Kitts and Nevis — map and facts

About Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two-island federation in the eastern Caribbean Sea, part of the Leeward Islands within the Lesser Antilles. The capital, Basseterre, is located on Saint Kitts (officially Saint Christopher). The country has a population of approximately 47,000 and gained independence from the United Kingdom on 19 September 1983, making it the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere by both area and population. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, with King Charles III as head of state represented by a Governor-General. Nevis retains an island assembly and the constitutional right to secede, a referendum on which narrowly failed in 1998. The economy has historically been based on sugar production, but the sugar industry was formally closed in 2005, and the country has since pivoted to tourism, financial services, and a citizenship-by-investment programme. English is the official language.

Geography and Landscape

Saint Kitts measures approximately 168 square kilometres and Nevis about 93 square kilometres. The two islands are separated by a shallow channel roughly three kilometres wide known as The Narrows. Saint Kitts is dominated by a central volcanic mountain range culminating in Mount Liamuiga, a dormant stratovolcano rising to 1,156 metres, whose name derives from the Carib word for "fertile land." The southern peninsula of Saint Kitts is drier and flatter, with salt ponds and sandy beaches. Nevis is nearly circular and dominated by Nevis Peak, a cloud-capped dormant volcano reaching 985 metres. Both islands have lush rainforest interiors, black and white sand beaches, and geothermal activity. The climate is tropical and moderated by northeast trade winds, with a wet season from May to November. The islands sit in the hurricane belt and have experienced significant storm events throughout their history.

History

Saint Kitts was inhabited by the Kalinago (Carib) people when Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, naming the island San Cristóbal. English colonists established the first successful British colony in the Caribbean here in 1623, followed by French settlers in 1625. The two powers coexisted uneasily, jointly massacring the Kalinago at Bloody Point in 1626 before fighting each other for dominance for over a century. Saint Kitts became fully British under the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Sugar dominated the economy for two centuries, supported by enslaved African labour. Brimstone Hill Fortress, built by enslaved people under British direction, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Emancipation came in 1834. The islands joined the West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962 before becoming an associated state in 1967. Full independence was achieved in 1983. Saint Kitts and Nevis today is known for its stable democracy and citizenship-by-investment programme.