British Virgin Islands

Dependent territory of the U.K.

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Area

Total area: 150 sq km
Land area: 150 sq km
Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Note: Includes the island of Anegada

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

80 km

Maritime Claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

International Disputes

None

Climate

Subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain

Coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Natural Resources

Negligible

Land Use

Arable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 7%
Meadows and pastures: 33%
Forest and woodland: 7%
Other: 33%

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
International agreements: NA

Note: Strong ties to nearby U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

PEOPLE

Population

13,195 (July 1996 est.)
13,027 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

1.29% (1996 est.)
1.27% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

20.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
20.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

19.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
19.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 72.78 years (1996 est.); 72.73 years (1995 est.)
Male: 70.93 years (1996 est.); 70.88 years (1995 est.)
Female: 74.75 years (1996 est.); 74.7 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.27 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
Adjective: British Virgin Islander

Ethnic Divisions

Black 90%
White, Asian

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)

Languages

English (official)

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1991 est.)

Total population: 97.8%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%

Labor Force

4,911 (1980)

By occupation:

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: British Virgin Islands

Abbreviation

BVI

Digraph

Type

Dependent territory of the U.K.

Capital

Road Town

Administrative Divisions

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

Independence

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

National Holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

Constitution

1 June 1977

Legal System

English law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995) who was appointed by the queen
Head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) was appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
Cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Legislative Council

Election last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held on NA February 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (13 total) VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3

Judicial Branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP); Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), E. Walwyln BREWLEY

Member of

Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)

Flag

Blue with the flag of the U.K. 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)

ECONOMY

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 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. 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 traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands have used the dollar as their currency since 1959.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $133 million (1991)

National Product Real Growth Rate

2% (1991)

National Product Per Capita

$10,600 (1991)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

2.5% (1990 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NEGL% (1992)

Budget

Revenues: $77.1 million (FY93/94); $51 million (1991)
Expenditures: $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94); $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)

Exports

$2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)

Commodities:

Rum
Fresh fish
Gravel
Sand
Fruits
Animals

Partners:

Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Puerto Rico
U.S.

Imports

$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)

Commodities:

Building materials
Automobiles
Foodstuffs
Machinery

Partners:

Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Puerto Rico
U.S.

External Debt

$4.5 million (1985)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 4% (1985)

Electricity

Capacity: 10,500 kW
Production: 50 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 3,148 kWh (1993)

Industries

Tourism
Light industry
Construction
Rum
Concrete block
Offshore financial center

Agriculture

Livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

Economic Aid

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

U.S. currency is used

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 106 km (1983)
Paved: NA
Unpaved: NA

Ports

Road Town

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

6,291 telephones (1990 est.); worldwide external telephone service

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: submarine cable communication links to Bermuda

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 9,000 (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

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

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 30 december 1997

web hosting • domain names
web design • online games