Statistical information British Virgin Islands 1993

British Virgin Islands in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 pageLocation: in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 150 km²
Land: 150 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land useArable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 7%
Meadows and pastures: 33%
Forest and woodland: 7%
Other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 12,707 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 1.22% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: British Virgin Islander(s)
Adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 90%, white, Asian
Languages: English (official)
Religions:
Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman
Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.22% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 20.37 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 6.11 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration ratePopulation distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October
Current issues note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 19.68 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 72.62 years
Male: 70.77 years
Female: 74.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
Abbreviation: BVI
Government type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Road Town
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution: 1 June 1977
Legal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (dependent territory of UK)
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 VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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. The economy slowed in 1991 because of the poor performances of the tourist sector and tight commercial bank credit. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2% (1991)
Real gdp per capita: $10,600 (1991)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture 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)
By occupation: NA
Unemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $51 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $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 goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: US currency is used
top of pageElectricityProduction: 10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced, 3,510 kWh per capita (1990)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3
Usable: 3
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 0
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs