2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

91 sq km

total

91 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about half the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Coastline

61 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Crocus Hill 65 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 63 10 W

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forests and woodland

0%

other

100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

0%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural hazards

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

Natural resources

salt, fish, lobster

Terrain

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Age structure

0-14 years: 26% (male 1,565; female 1,519) 15-64 years: 67% (male 4,040; female 3,839) 65 years and over: 7% (male 369; female 465) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

15.34 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

black

Infant mortality rate

25.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.09 years (2000 est.)

male

73.22 years

total population

76.11 years

Literacy

definition

age 12 and over can read and write

female

95% (1984 est.)

male

95%

total population

95%

Nationality

adjective

Anguillan

noun

Anguillan(s)

Net migration rate

19.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

11,797 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

The Valley

Constitution

Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Anguilla

Data code

AV

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since 1 November 1995)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly

head of government

Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994)

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1

elections

last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held 10 March 2004)

National holiday

Anguilla Day, 30 May

Political parties and leaders

Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP ; Anguilla National Alliance or ANA ; Anguilla United Party or AUP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Budget

expenditures

$23.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.8 million (1997 est.)

revenues

$20.4 million

Currency

1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$8.8 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$3.5 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. The economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September but recovered in 1996. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, contributed to economic growth in 1997-98. 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 as well as favorable weather conditions.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

NA%

hydro

NA%

nuclear

NA%

other

NA%

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$4.5 million (1998)

Exports - commodities

lobster, fish, livestock, salt

Exports - partners

NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $88 million (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4%

industry

18%

services

78% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,900 (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$57.6 million (1998)

Imports - commodities

NA

Imports - partners

NA

Industrial production growth rate

3.1% (1997 est.)

Industries

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force

4,400 (1992)

Labor force - by occupation

commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

7% (1992 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

3,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

modern internal telephone system

international

microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

Telephones - main lines in use

4,000 (1994)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

1,000 (1997)

Airports

3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

253 km

total

279 km

unpaved

26 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none

ANTARCTICA