Saint Kitts and Nevis is a twin-island nation located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is known for its lush landscapes and beautiful beaches. The nation’s economy relies heavily on tourism, agriculture and offshore financial services.

In the past few years, poverty in Saint Kitts and Nevis has been significantly reduced and other grand achievements have been made on a wider scale. However, certain events have left the two-island country vulnerable, particularly in areas of health, the environment and economic situations. Below are a few facts about poverty in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

1. Before the financial crisis of 2008, nearly 24% of the population in Saint Kitts or one in four people, was considered poor. Nevis’ numbers fell shorter at 15.9% or one in seven. Poverty in Saint Kitts and Nevis worsened as a result of the global economic crisis that began in 2008 and the hurricanes that ravaged the Caribbean in previous years. Hurricanes Omar and Earl struck the country in 2008 and 2010, with an impact on the balance of payments at $19 million or about 3.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
2. According to the World Bank, the unemployment rate in Saint Kitts and Nevis is 5.1% of the total population. There is also a disparity in the labor force, with women experiencing a lower rate of 4.3% compared to men at 5.9%.
3. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook, improved drinking water sources have been noted in Saint Kitts and Nevis for 98.3% of the total population. This implies that as of 2015, 1.7% of the population lacked improved water sources. Similarly, improved sanitation facility access has assisted 87.3% of the total population.
4. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly 22% or one in five people on the island, live in poverty. Poverty in Saint Kitts and Nevis is also linked to chronic diseases, such as dengue fever, a mosquito-borne virus central to the area. In 2023, 185 cases of dengue fever were reported on the dual-island.
5. Fortunately, education in Saint Kitts and Nevis has experienced an upward spiral, with the net enrollment in primary schools at 89% in 2009 and the literacy rate in people aged from 15 at 97%.
6. The government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has implemented various initiatives to address poverty and improve living standards for its citizens. One such initiative is diversifying its agricultural sector to promote the development of other sectors after the failure of the sugar industry in 2005.

Saint Kitts and Nevis has had its share of events with negative impacts, physically, socially and economically. However, with the nation continually making plans for improvement, poverty in Saint Kitts and Nevis in all its forms can hopefully be eradicated.

– Mikaela Frigillana

Photo: Flickr
Updated: June 03, 2024