Map of British Virgin Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

top of page


Background: First settled by the Dutch in 1648 the islands were soon after (1672) annexed by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.


top of page


Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 150 km²
Land: 150 km²; includes the island of Anegada
Comparative: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Disputes: none

Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Elevation

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land: 20%; permanent crops: 7%; meadows and pastures 33%; forest and woodland 7%; other 33%

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


top of page


Population: 12,555 (July 1992), growth rate 1.2% (1992)

Nationality:

Ethnic groups: over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin

Languages: English (official)

Religions:

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 20 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1000 population (1992)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues:
Current issues note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 20 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 75 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1992)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: none

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Road Town

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July

Constitution: 1 June 1977

Legal system: English law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 18
Legislative Council:

Executive branch:

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of UK)

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean area, is highly dependent on the tourist industry, which generates about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government offered offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and, in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2 million in 1987. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.
GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $130 million, per capita $10,600; real growth rate 6.3% (1990)

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate--4.0% (1985)

Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
Organized labor: NA% of labor force

Unemployment rate: NEGL%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $51 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodoties: rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
Partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodoties: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: US currency is used


top of page


Electricity access

Electricity production: 10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced, 3,510 kWh per capita (1990)

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways less than 1,220 m

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs