Anguilla

Dependent territory of the U.K.

 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico

Area

Total area: 91 sq km
Land area: 91 sq km
Comparative area: 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

International Disputes

None

Climate

Tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain

Flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural Resources

Negligible
Salt, fish, lobster

Land Use

Arable land: NA
Permanent crops: NA
Meadows and pastures: NA
Forest and woodland: NA
Other: NA (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds)

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
International agreements: NA

PEOPLE

Population

10,424 (July 1996 est.)
7,099 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

28% (male 1,491; female 1,450) (July 1996 est.)
32% (male 1,115; female 1,129) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

64% (male 3,418; female 3,275) (July 1996 est.)
60% (male 2,126; female 2,101) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

8% (male 342; female 448) (July 1996 est.)
8% (male 266; female 362) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

3.45% (1996 est.)
0.66% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

17.84 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
24.09 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

22.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-9.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female

Infant Mortality Rate

23 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 76.7 (1996 est.), 74.1 years (1995 est.)
Male: 73.75 years (1996 est.), 71.32 years (1995 est.)
Female: 79.74 years (1996 est.), 76.91 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.04 children born/woman (1996 est.)
3.05 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Anguillan(s)
Adjective: Anguillan

Ethnic Divisions

Black African

Religions

Languages

English (official)

Literacy

Age 12 and over that can read and write (1984)

Total population: 95%
Male: 95%
Female: 95%

Labor Force

4,400 (1992)

By occupation:

Commerce 36%
Services 29%
Construction 18%
Transportation and utilities 10%
Manufacturing 3%
Agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Anguilla

Digraph

Type

Dependent territory of the U.K.

Capital

The Valley

Administrative Divisions

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

Independence

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

National Holiday

Anguilla Day, 30 May

Constitution

Anguilla Constitutional Orders 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 (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan W. SHAVE (since 14 August 1992)
Head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994)
Cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor from the elected members of the House of Assembly

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

House of Assembly

Elections last held 16 March 1994 (next to be held March 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1

Judicial Branch

High Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Anguilla National Alliance (ANA); Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS

Member of

Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate)

Flag

The flag of Anguilla: 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. This flag is in use since may 1990; before this date the flag used to be three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below. View old Anguilla flag

ECONOMY

Overview

Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Output growth has averaged about 7% in recent years, mainly as a result of 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.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $53 million (1994 est.), $49 million (1993 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

6.5% (1994 est.)
7.5% (1992)

National Product Per Capita

$7,600 (1994 est.)
$7,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

4% (1994)
3% (1992 est.)

Unemployment Rate

7% (1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues: $13.5 million (1993), $13.8 million (1992 est.)
Expenditures: $17.6 million, including capital expenditures of $740,000 (1995 est.), $15.2 million, including capital expenditures of $2.4 million (1992 est.)

Exports

$556,000 (f.o.b., 1992)

Commodities:

Lobster and salt

Partners:

Imports

$33.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 2,000 kW
Production: 6 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992)

Industries

Tourism
Boat building
Salt

Agriculture

Pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry, fishing (including lobster)

Economic Aid

Recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $38 million

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal Year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 105 km (1992 est.)
Paved: 65 km
Unpaved: gravel and earth 40 km

Ports

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

890 telephones; modern internal telephone system

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: radio relay microwave link to island of Saint Martin

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,000 (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.K.

History
World Atlas

last updated 24 november 1997

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