2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
total: 102 sq km land: 102 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
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crocus Hill 65 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
Geography - note
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 24.8% (male 1,795/female 1,706) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 4,569/female 4,970) 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 510/female 558) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
13.11 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
4.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
4% of GDP (2005)
Ethnic groups
black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 80.53 years male: 78.01 years female: 83.12 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 12 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 95% female: 95% (1984 est.)
Median age
total: 32.3 years male: 31.3 years female: 33.4 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan
Net migration rate
14.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
14,108 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
2.332% (2008 est.)
Religions
Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%, Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Capital
name: The Valley geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla
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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Andrew N. GEORGE (since 10 July 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March 2000) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
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, UPU, WFTU
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; 7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, AUM 19.4%, ANSA 19.2%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA 2, AUM 1
National holiday
Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Political parties and leaders
Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS] (a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA); Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Budget
revenues: $22.8 million expenditures: $22.5 million (2000 est.)
Central bank discount rate
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
9.76% (31 December 2007)
Currency (code)
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code
XCD
Current account balance
-$42.87 million (2003 est.)
Debt - external
$8.8 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient
$9 million (2004 est.)
Economy - overview
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry has spurred the growth of the construction sector, contributing to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976
Exports
$13 million (2006)
Exports - commodities
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Exports - partners
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2006)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$8,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
10.2% (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$143 million (2006)
Imports - commodities
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Imports - partners
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
3.1% (1997 est.)
Industries
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force
6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line
23% (2002)
Stock of domestic credit
$447.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of money
$23.57 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money
$470.1 million (31 December 2007)
Unemployment rate
8% (2002)
Communications
Internet country code
.ai
Internet hosts
205 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
16 (2000)
Internet users
3,000 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios
3,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: modern internal telephone system international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use
6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1,800 (2002)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
1,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Ports and terminals
Blowing Point, Road Bay
Roadways
total: 175 km paved: 82 km unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 3,538 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 2,929 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 103 female: 103 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008