Which country is the smallest independent state in the western hemisphere by total area?

Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest independent state in the western hemisphere by total area. The Caribbean federation covers approximately 261 square kilometres.

The western hemisphere includes the Americas and the surrounding Atlantic and Pacific regions west of the prime meridian. Among sovereign countries in that hemisphere, Saint Kitts and Nevis is smaller than every other independent state, including nearby island nations such as Grenada and Barbados.

The country consists of the volcanic islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Basseterre is the capital, and the state became independent from the United Kingdom in 1983. This distinction concerns independent sovereign states, so it does not include non-sovereign territories such as Caribbean dependencies.