Anguilla

English settlers from Saint Kitts first colonized Anguilla in 1650. Great Britain administered the island until the early 19th century, when -- against the wishes of the inhabitants -- Anguilla 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, when Anguilla became a separate British dependency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage on the island, particularly to communications and residential and business infrastructure.

land

91 sq km

total

91 sq km

water

0 sq km

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

61 km

highest point

Crocus Hill 73 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

18 15 N, 63 10 W

the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

0 sq km (2020)

total

0 km

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

61.1% (2018 est.)

other

38.9% (2018 est.)

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

Central America and the Caribbean

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

salt, fish, lobster

most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

0-14 years

20.8% (male 2,056/female 1,992)

15-64 years

67.5% (male 5,958/female 7,147)

65 years and over

11.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,093/female 1,170)

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

NA

46.1% (2023 est.)

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

14.1

potential support ratio

7.1 (2021)

total dependency ratio

38.6

youth dependency ratio

24.4

improved: total

total: 97.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.5% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.5% of population

4% of GDP (2020 est.)

African/Black 85.3%, Hispanic 4.9%, mixed 3.8%, White 3.2%, East Indian/Indian 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

note

note: data represent population by ethnic origin

0.85 (2024 est.)

female

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

English (official)

female

85.3 years

male

80 years

total population

82.6 years (2024 est.)

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

1,000 THE VALLEY (capital) (2018)

female

39 years

male

34.8 years

total

37.1 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Anguillan

noun

Anguillan(s)

10.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

female

10,309 (2024 est.)

male

9,107

total

19,416

most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast

1.74% (2024 est.)

Protestant 73.2% (includes Anglican 22.7%, Methodist 19.4%, Pentecostal 10.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Baptist 7.1%, Church of God 4.9%, Presbyterian 0.2%, Brethren 0.1%), Roman Catholic 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 10.9%, other 3.2%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4.5% (2011 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.9% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.9% of population

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.83 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.93 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.88 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.72 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

none (overseas territory of the UK)

etymology

name derives from the capital's location between several hills

geographic coordinates

18 13 N, 63 03 W

name

The Valley

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

see United Kingdom

amendments

amended 1990, 2012, 2017, 2019

history

several previous; latest 1 April 1982

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Anguilla

etymology

the name Anguilla means "eel" in various Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French) and likely derives from the island's lengthy shape

overseas territory of the UK

embassy

none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000

none (overseas territory of the UK)

cabinet

Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected members of the House of Assembly

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Julia CROUCH (since 11 September 2023)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

head of government

Premier Dr. Ellis WEBSTER (since 30 June 2020) 

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 a turquoise-blue field below; the white in the background represents peace; the blue base symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope; the three dolphins stand for endurance, unity, and strength

parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU

highest court(s)

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, travelling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, though none on Anguilla

judge selection and term of office

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts

Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court

common law based on the English model

description

unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 2 appointed by the governor, and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and deputy governor; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APM 7, AUF 4; composition - men 8, women 3, percentage women 27.3%

elections

last held on 29 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

lyrics/music

Alex RICHARDSON

name

"God Bless Anguilla"

note

note: local anthem adopted 1981; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

dolphin

Anguilla Progressive Movement or APM; (formerly Anguilla United Movement or AUM)Anguilla United Front or AUF

18 years of age; universal

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

expenditures

$72.352 million (2017 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$81.925 million (2017 est.)

Current account balance 2016

-$25.3 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$23.2 million (2017 est.)

small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinery

Currency

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

2.7 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

2.7 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2.7 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

2.7 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

2.7 (2023 est.)

Exports 2016

$3.9 million (2016 est.)

Exports 2017

$7.9 million (2017 est.)

note

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

packaged medicine, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, trucks, blank audio media (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Chile 74%, Hungary 7%, Kyrgyzstan 3%, US 2%, Netherlands 2% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

48.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption

18.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

74.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-67.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.8% (2017 est.)

agriculture

3% (2017 est.)

industry

10.5% (2017 est.)

services

86.4% (2017 est.)

Imports 2016

$170.1 million (2016 est.)

Imports 2017

$186.2 million (2017 est.)

poultry, copper ore, refined petroleum, natural gas, fish (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Chile 48%, US 27%, Botswana 18%, Canada 1%, Japan 1% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

4% (2017 est.)

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

-0.6% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.3% (2017 est.)

Public debt 2015

20.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2015

$48.14 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$76.38 million (31 December 2017 est.)

46.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35 (2018 est.)

total

5,000 (2018 est.)

1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned

.ai

percent of population

81.6% (2021 est.)

total

13,056 (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is about 38 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 170 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

in the telecom sector, with declines seen in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services — the mainstay of short-term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis to a small extent as employees and students have resorted to working from home, but their contribution to the sector has been insufficient to offset steep falls in other areas of the market; one area of the telecom market that does not yet appear poised for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have little appetite for investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage; until the economies and markets stabilize, and overseas visitors return there is unlikely to be much momentum towards implementing 5G capabilities anywhere in the region (2021)

international

country code - 1-264; landing points for the SSCS, ECFS, GCN and Southern Caribbean Fiber with submarine cable links to Caribbean islands and to the US; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

6,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

170 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

26,000 (2021 est.)

1 (2024)

VP-A

by type

other 2

total

2 (2023)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

paved

82 km

total

175 km

unpaved

93 km (2004)

defense is the responsibility of the UK

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

61.1% (2018 est.)

other

38.9% (2018 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)