Economy—overview: Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until the 1970s. Although the crop still dominates the agricultural sector, activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy. Tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign exchange; about 40,000 tourist visited Nevis during the 2003-2004 season. Additional tourist facilities, including a second cruise ship pier, hotels, and golf courses are under construction.

GDP—real growth rate: -1.9% (2002 est.)

GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity— $8,800 (2002 est.)

GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
 lowest 10%: NA%
 highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 18,170 (June 1995)

Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1997)

Budget: 
revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million; including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (2003 est.)

Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity—production: 111.7 million kWh (2003)

Electricity—consumption: 103.9 million kWh (2003)

Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (2003)

Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (2003)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Exports: $70 million (2004 est.)

Exports—commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports—partners: US 66%, Canada 8.8%, UK 6.2% (2005)

Imports: $405 million (2004 est.)

Imports—commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports—partners: Ukraine 43.6%, US 28%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.6% (2005)

Debt—external: $171 million (2001)

Economic aid—recipient: $8 million (2001)

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Fiscal year: calendar year