Location:
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 261 sq km
(Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 261 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
212
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
135 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200
nm or to the edge of the continental margin
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
More Climate Details
Terrain:
volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation:
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
agricultural land: 23.1%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 19.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.4%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 3.5%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 42.3%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 34.6%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
8 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to October)
volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts, and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis, are both volcanoes that are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
smallest country in the Western Hemisphere both in terms of area and population; with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island
