Society of St Kitts and Nevis

KEY FACTS 2015

Population per sq km: 214

Life expectancy:  75 years (est.)

Net primary enrolment:  81% (2012)

Population: 55,000 (2015); some 12,000 on Nevis; of the total population, 32 per cent of people live in urban areas; growth 1.1 per cent p.a. 1990–2015; birth rate 14 per 1,000 people (est. 26 in 1970); life expectancy 75 years (est.)

The population is mainly of mixed African and European descent, with a UK-descended minority.

Language: English is the official language; an English-based Creole is widely spoken.

Religion: Mainly Christians (Anglicans, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Moravians and others).

Media: The main political parties publish newspapers. Newspapers include Sun St Kitts/Nevis (daily), The Democrat (weekly of People’s Action Movement), The Labour Spokesman (bi-weekly of St Kitts–Nevis Trades and Labour Union), and St Kitts and Nevis Observer (weekly).

The government provides national commercial radio and TV services, ZIZ Radio and ZIZ Television; and there are several private radio stations while private TV channels are available via cable.

Public holidays: New Year/Carnival (two/three days), Labour Day (first Monday in May), August Monday (first Monday in August), August Tuesday (first Tuesday in August), National Heroes’ Day (16 September), Independence Day (19 September), Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Carnival begins on 24 December and ends on 2 January.

Religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday and Whit Monday.