Background: Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650 Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971 two years after a revolt Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 91 km²
Land: 91 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 61 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster

Land use
Arable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

Population: 10,785 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 3.36% (1997 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Anguillan(s)
Adjective: Anguillan

Ethnic groups: black

Languages: English (official)

Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%

Age structure
0-14 years: 28% (male 1,527; female 1,483)
15-64 years: 65% (male 3,563; female 3,407)
65 years and over: 7% (male 351; female 454) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.36% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 17.43 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 5.47 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 21.6 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Environment
Current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 21.6 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.02 years
Male: 74.07 years
Female: 80.08 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 12 and over can read and write
Total population: 95%
Male: 95%
Female: 95% (1984 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Anguilla

Government type: NA

Capital: The Valley

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May

Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since 1 November 1995)
Head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994)
Cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 16 March 1994 (next to be held March 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1

Judicial branch: High Court, judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), ECLAC (associate)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below

Economy overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on high-class tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Output growth had averaged about 7% in recent years, mainly as a result of a boom in tourism thanks to economic expansion in North America and the UK. The economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September. Agricultural output had only just begun to recover from a drought in 1994 when Luis hit. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financing sector. A comprehensive package of financial services legislation was enacted in late 1994. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend on the tourism sector and, therefore, on continuing income growth in the industrialized nations.

Real gdp growth rate: -4.3% (1995 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,400 (1995 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes; sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry; fishing (including lobster)

Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force
Total: 4,400 (1992)
By occupation commerce: 36%
By occupation services: 29%
By occupation construction: 18%
By occupation transportationandutilities: 10%
By occupation manufacturing: 3%
By occupation agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 4%

Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $13.5 million (1993)
Expenditures: $17.6 million, including capital expenditures of $740,000 (1995 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports
Total value: $1.3 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Commodities: lobster and salt
Partners: NA

Imports
Total value: $39.8 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Commodities: NA
Partners: NA

Debt external: $8.5 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)

Electricity
Capacity: NA kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh

Telephones: 890

Telephone system
Domestic: modern internal telephone system
International: microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none