The last Population Census 2011 reports a population of 46,204 persons in St. Kitts-Nevis with 34,789 living on St Kitts, and 11,415 living on Nevis. Persons within the age of range of 0-35, number at 26,220, which is 64.9% of the entire population which is a total youth population of 13,830 between the ages of 16-35.

In both St. Kitts and Nevis, the majority of the youth are between the ages of 0- 19 years. In St. Kitts, there seems to be more males in this age group than females. In Nevis, the distribution is the converse.

The basic family structures that exist in St. Kitts-Nevis are the single parent, nuclear and extended family units. However, the majority of our youth live in single-parent households. This contributes to the social conditions that presently exist.

The non-nuclear family structures have resulted in single parent homes that bring pressure on state institutions such as the Children’s Home. The Government of St. Kitts-Nevis and local civil society partners have sought to educate the population on child abandonment, its impact on our children and the burden it places on society and the state. Numerous intervention and training initiatives have been pursued through our schools, and Government Social Services Departments to sensitize and assist parents with proper parenting skills and good practices in child development. Similarly, Government has and continues to work with various other stakeholders to facilitate varied programming toward enhancing the capacities of parents to nurture and guide our youth.

The former British colony of St Kitts and Nevis is inhabited mostly by the descendants of West African slaves.

Its beaches, scenery and a warm, sunny climate give it great tourist potential. It is also vulnerable to hurricanes.

The islands of St Kitts - also known as St Christopher - and Nevis have been in an uneasy federation since independence from Britain in 1983, with some politicians in Nevis saying the federal government in St Kitts - home to a majority of the population - had ignored the needs of Nevisians.

But a referendum on secession held in Nevis in 1998 failed to gain the two-thirds majority needed to break away.

Tourism, offshore finance and service industries are important sources of income - more so since a centuries-old but loss-making sugar industry was wound down in 2005 with the loss of hundreds of jobs.

By 2003, Nevis was home to around 17,000 offshore businesses operating under strict secrecy laws, making the islands a target for drugs traffickers and money launderers. Laws have been introduced to crack down on the problem.