One of the Caribbean's most popular tourist destinations, St. Kitts and Nevis, a former British colony, lies at the northern end of the Leeward Islands chain. St. Kitts is of volcanic origin; Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano with a crater 227 m (745 ft.) deep, is the highest point on the island. Nevis, separated from St. Kitts by a channel 3 km (2 miles) wide, is the lusher but less developed of the two islands. In the 18th century, its famed hot and cold springs gained Nevis the title "the Spa of the Caribbean."

Most of the population is descended from Africans brought over in the 17th century; intermarriage has blurred other racial lines. There are small numbers of Europeans and South Asians. High levels of emigration ensure a stable population size and provide a source of foreign currency.

Strengths

Growth in tourism industry, light manufacturing, and financial services. Diversifying agricultural sector.

Weaknesses

Tourism and related industries prone to hurricane damage, most recently in 1998–1999. Agricultural exports sensitive to fluctuating world market.

The center-left SKLP ended 15 years of rule by the right-wing People's Action Movement (PAM) by winning the 1995 general election, and won a second term in 2000. A plan for secession by the Nevis government was narrowly defeated in a referendum in August 1998.

Resumption of hanging in 1998 after a 13-year moratorium drew strong international criticism. Suspected money laundering earned St. Kitts condemnation from G7 in 2000.

An army existed for six years before it was disbanded to cut government expenditure in 1981. A small paramilitary unit remains within the police; it made a token appearance with US forces during the 1983 invasion of Grenada.

St. Kitts has no strategic resources. Almost all energy has to be imported, mainly oil from Venezuela and Mexico. Sugar output declined rapidly in the 1990s. New crops, such as Sea Island cotton on Nevis, have been introduced. Offshore fishing has potential.

Hurricanes are the greatest environmental threat. Hurricane Georges alone caused damage in 1998 estimated at US$400 million. It was followed in 1999 by Hurricane Lenny. As in the rest of the Caribbean, benefits from encouraging tourism must be set against potential ecological damage. The government has shown sensitivity, with strict preservation orders on the remaining rainforest and on indigenous monkeys.

Most roads on the islands follow the coast; just a few cross the interior. Access to the remote southeast peninsula of St. Kitts has been improved. The airport on St. Kitts takes large jets; Nevis airport accepts only light aircraft. Regular ferries connect the islands.

The government-run health service now provides rudimentary care on both St. Kitts and Nevis. The EU and France provided EC$8 million in 1998 for repairs to the main hospital at Basseterre, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Georges.

Education is free and the government is keen to promote information technology subjects. Students attend the regional University of the West Indies, or go on to colleges in the USA and the UK.

The judicial system is based on British common law. The police are UK-trained. Hanging was resumed in 1998, and plans agreed in 2001 to replace the role of the UK Privy Council with a Caribbean Court of Justice raised fears of more executions. Narcotics-related crimes are rising.

Native professionals and civil servants have replaced expatriates over the past 20 years. They are now the best-paid group, but there are no great extremes of income.

St. Kitts has long targeted the mass US tourist market. Improvements to boost tourism include the opening up of the St. Kitts southern peninsula to large-scale tourist developments, and the expansion of the main port to accommodate two cruise ships simultaneously. Most visitors come for sand, sun, and the Caribbean mood, although in recent years safaris inland to see local wildlife and mineral springs have become more popular. On St. Kitts, the old Brimstone Hill fortress has been converted into a museum, as has the Nevis birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of the architects of the US constitution.

A British colony since 1783 and part of the Leeward Islands Federation until 1956, St. Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983.

• 1932 Pro-independence St. Kitts–Nevis–Anguilla Labour Party set up.
• 1967 Internal self-government.
• 1980 Anguilla formally separates from St. Kitts and Nevis.
• 1983 Independence from UK.
• 1995 Opposition SKLP wins election.
• 1998 Nevis referendum narrowly rejects secession.
• 2000 Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and SKLP reelected. St. Kitts blacklisted by G7 for its financial dealings.