The +1869 code is for Saint Kitts and Nevis, a two-island nation in the Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean. Like other Caribbean territories, it sits inside the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) — meaning its country code is +1 and 869 is the area code. You dial it the same way you'd call any US number, but your carrier charges international rates.
Saint Kitts is the larger island (about 40,000 people) with the capital Basseterre. Nevis is smaller (about 12,000) and quieter. Both share the 869 area code, and there is no way to distinguish which island a number belongs to from the digits alone. The federation is one of the smallest countries in the Western Hemisphere, which means the phone system is compact and there are only two carriers to deal with.
Quick answer: From the US or Canada, dial 1-869 + the 7-digit local number. From other countries, dial your exit code + 1-869 + the 7-digit number. No trunk prefix. Landlines start with 465-469, mobiles with 662-665 or 760-769.
How to call Saint Kitts and Nevis: quick reference
Saint Kitts and Nevis is part of the NANP, so calling from North America uses the same format as a domestic long-distance call. From outside North America, add your country's exit code before the 1-869 prefix.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +1 869 [7-digit number] |
| US/Canada landline | 1-869-[7-digit number] |
| UK | 00-1-869-[7-digit number] |
| Other Caribbean (NANP) | 1-869-[7-digit number] |
| CallSky app | +1869 [7-digit number] — call from browser or iOS |
Understanding Saint Kitts and Nevis phone numbers
All phone numbers follow the NANP format: area code 869 + a 7-digit local number (XXX-XXXX). The full number is always 10 digits: 869-XXX-XXXX.
Landline numbers
Landlines use exchange codes in the 465-469 range. A typical landline looks like +1 869-465-XXXX or +1 869-466-XXXX. Most landline connections are in Basseterre on Saint Kitts and Charlestown on Nevis. Landline penetration is lower than mobile — many households rely on mobiles exclusively.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers use exchange codes 662-665 (Digicel) and 760-769 (Flow). A typical mobile number looks like +1 869-662-XXXX or +1 869-765-XXXX. Like elsewhere in the Caribbean, many people carry phones from both carriers to get cheaper on-network rates.
Number format summary
| Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Landline | +1 869-46X-XXXX | +1 869-465-1234 |
| Mobile (Digicel) | +1 869-66X-XXXX | +1 869-662-5678 |
| Mobile (Flow) | +1 869-76X-XXXX | +1 869-765-9012 |
Mobile carriers in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Two carriers split the market, which is the standard setup across the Eastern Caribbean. With only about 52,000 people on both islands, neither carrier has a huge subscriber base.
Flow (Liberty Latin America)
Flow is the legacy carrier, descending from Cable & Wireless through the LIME rebrand. It provides mobile, fixed-line, broadband, and cable TV services. Flow mobile numbers use the 760-769 exchange range. Flow is the only landline provider and runs the undersea fiber cable that connects the islands to the regional network.
Digicel
Digicel launched in Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2003 and competes aggressively on price and data plans. Digicel mobile numbers use the 662-665 exchange range. Their 4G coverage is good in Basseterre and Charlestown but can be spotty in the more mountainous interior of Saint Kitts and on the slopes of Nevis Peak.
Don't confuse +1869 with nearby codes
The 869 area code sits among several other Caribbean NANP codes. One misdialed digit puts your call on a different island.
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +1 868 | Trinidad and Tobago | One digit off — 868 vs 869 |
| +1 268 | Antigua and Barbuda | Neighboring island, similar area code pattern |
| +1 664 | Montserrat | Nearby Leeward Island, exchange codes overlap visually |
| +1 758 | Saint Lucia | Another "Saint" island — name confusion |
The Trinidad and Tobago mix-up is the most common because the area codes differ by just one digit: 868 for Trinidad, 869 for Saint Kitts. If you're reading a handwritten number, a sloppy 8 and 9 can easily be swapped.
Time zone considerations
Saint Kitts and Nevis uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST), UTC-4, year-round. No daylight saving time.
Time differences for callers
| Your location | Winter (Nov-Mar) | Summer (Mar-Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| New York / Toronto (ET) | SKN is 1 hour ahead | Same time |
| London (GMT/BST) | SKN is 4 hours behind | SKN is 5 hours behind |
| Los Angeles (PT) | SKN is 4 hours ahead | SKN is 3 hours ahead |
| Other Caribbean (AST) | Same time | Same time |
During US Eastern Daylight Time (March to November), Saint Kitts and Nevis and New York are on the same clock. This makes summer the easiest time to coordinate calls with the US East Coast.
Communication in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Business hours
Government offices run 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Banks close at 3:00 PM (some open Saturday mornings until noon). Most shops close by 4:00 or 5:00 PM. Nevis tends to be quieter and slower-paced than Saint Kitts — businesses may close earlier or keep less predictable hours.
Language
English is the official language. Most Kittitians and Nevisians also speak a local English-based Creole in casual settings. All business and government communication is in standard English, so language is not a barrier for callers from the US, UK, or Canada.
Communication habits
WhatsApp dominates everyday messaging. Voice calls are still used for business and for talking to older family members. The country's small population means personal connections matter — cold calls to businesses are unusual, and an introduction or reference from someone known goes much further than a formal inquiry. The Citizenship by Investment programme generates a lot of international phone traffic from applicants and their agents calling government offices and law firms.
The Saint Kitts and Nevis diaspora
Where Kittitians and Nevisians have settled
The diaspora is significant relative to the islands' population of 52,000. Large communities exist in the US Virgin Islands (especially St. Thomas and St. Croix), the UK (London and Leeds in particular), the US (New York, Hartford, and Miami), and Canada (Toronto). Many Nevisians also live on Saint Kitts itself, having moved for work.
Why they call home
Carnival (late December through early January) is the biggest calling period — it is the national festival and many diaspora members fly home or call those who are celebrating. Independence Day (September 19), Culturama on Nevis (late July/early August), and the Christmas season all drive phone traffic spikes. Hurricane season (June-November) generates anxious check-in calls, particularly after any named storm passes through the Leeward Islands. After Hurricane Maria in 2017 (which hit neighboring Dominica harder), lines to the region were overloaded for days.
Dialing examples
Calling a landline in Basseterre from the US
To reach a landline number 465-1234:
From a mobile: +1 869-465-1234
From a landline: 1-869-465-1234
Calling a mobile from the UK
To reach a Digicel mobile 662-5678:
Dial: 00 1 869-662-5678
Calling between the islands
Calls between Saint Kitts and Nevis use the same format — just dial the 7-digit number locally, or 1-869-XXX-XXXX if dialing from a mobile in the NANP format. Inter-island calls are local, not long-distance.
Calling with CallSky
Open the CallSky web app or iOS app and dial +1 869-465-1234. No exit codes or prefixes needed.
Common mistakes to avoid
Treating it as a domestic US call
The 1-869 format looks like any US area code, but calls to Saint Kitts and Nevis are billed as international by US and Canadian carriers. Your unlimited calling plan does not cover it. Use a VoIP service like CallSky or check your international rates before dialing.
Dialing 011 before 1-869
From the US or Canada, do not use the 011 international access code. Since Saint Kitts and Nevis is in the NANP, you dial it as 1-869-XXX-XXXX, not 011-1-869-XXX-XXXX. The 011 prefix is only for non-NANP countries.
Confusing 869 with 868 (Trinidad)
Trinidad and Tobago is +1 868. Saint Kitts and Nevis is +1 869. One digit difference. If you're reading a number from a text or email, verify the area code carefully — a call to the wrong island will connect to a stranger in Port of Spain instead of Basseterre.
Assuming separate codes for each island
Despite being a federation of two islands with distinct identities, Saint Kitts and Nevis share the single 869 area code. There is no separate code for Nevis. If someone gives you a Nevis number, it still starts with 869.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +1869 country code?
Saint Kitts and Nevis, a two-island federation in the Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean. 869 is its area code within the North American Numbering Plan.
How do I call Saint Kitts and Nevis from the US?
Dial 1-869 followed by the 7-digit local number. No 011 prefix needed. From a mobile you can also use +1 869-XXX-XXXX. Be aware it is billed as an international call despite the familiar format.
Do Saint Kitts and Nevis share the same area code?
Yes. Both islands use 869. There is no separate area code for Nevis.
What time zone is Saint Kitts and Nevis in?
Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-4) year-round. No daylight saving. During US summer (EDT), Saint Kitts and New York are on the same time.
What are the mobile carriers in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
Flow (formerly LIME/Cable & Wireless, now owned by Liberty Latin America) and Digicel. Flow also runs the landline and broadband network.
Looking for more country codes? Browse our complete country code directory, or check nearby Caribbean guides for Antigua and Barbuda (+1268) and Saint Lucia (+1758).