Statistical information British Virgin Islands 1999

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: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 150 km²
Land: 150 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes the island of Anegada
Comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claimsExclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land useArable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 7%
Permanent pastures: 33%
Forests and woodland: 7%
Other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
GeographyNote: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
top of pagePopulation: 19,156 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.37% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
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 structure0-14 years: 21% (male 2,012; female 1,965)
15-64 years: 74% (male 7,300; female 6,896)
65 years and over: 5% (male 539; female 444) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.37% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.92 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.65 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.37 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 22.17 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.13 years
Male: 74.37 years
Female: 75.92 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
Abbreviation: BVI
Government type: NA
Capital: Road Town
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution: 1 June 1977
Legal system: English law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995)
Head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT)
Cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal; (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court; Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us: none (overseas territory of the 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, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.7% (1997)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $10,000 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 1%
Industry: 1.4%
Services: 97.6% (1991-95 average)
Agriculture products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
By occupation: tourism NA%
Unemployment rate: 3% (1995)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $121.5 million
Expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997)
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: $23.9 million (1996)
Commodities: rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports: $121.5 million (1996)
Commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $34.8 million (1996)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: US currency is used
top of pageElectricityProduction: 42 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 42 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 6,291 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: worldwide telephone service
Domestic: NA
International: submarine cable to Bermuda
Broadcast 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 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs