2010 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 one-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

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%

other

100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, 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: 24.5% (male 1,815/female 1,725) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 4,665/female 5,125) 65 years and over: 7.7% (male 534/female 572) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

13 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2008)

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

female

3.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

3.94 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.39 years (2010 est.)

male

78.22 years

total population

80.77 years

Literacy

definition: age 12 and over can read and write

female

95% (1984 est.)

male

95%

total population

95%

Median age

female

34.3 years (2010 est.)

male

31.6 years

total

33 years

Nationality

adjective

Anguillan

noun

Anguillan(s)

Net migration rate

13.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

14,766 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.215% (2010 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)

female

11 years (2008)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.032 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

geographic coordinates

18 13 N, 63 03 W

name

The Valley

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

cabinet

Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alistair HARRISON (since 21 April 2009)

elections

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

head of government

Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 February 2010)

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 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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AUM 4, AUF 2, APP 1

elections

last held on 15 February 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Alex RICHARDSON note: local anthem adopted 1981; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

name

"God Bless Anguilla"

National holiday

Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

Political parties and leaders

Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]; 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.27% (31 December 2009 est.) 9.51% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$42.87 million (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$8.8 million (1998)

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

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

$119.5 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4%

industry

18%

services

78% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,200 (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-8.5% (2009 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$175.4 million (2009 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$175.4 million (2009 est.) $191.7 million (2008 est.) $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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

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%

commerce

36%

construction

18%

manufacturing

3%

services

29% (2000 est.)

transportation and utilities

10%

Population below poverty line

23% (2002)

Stock of broad money

$458.9 million (31 December 2009) $470.6 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$529.6 million (31 December 2008 est.) $447.7 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$19.03 million (31 December 2009) $19.57 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

8% (2002)

Broadcast media

1 private television station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned (2007)

Internet country code

.ai

Internet hosts

271 (2010)

Internet users

3,700 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

modern internal telephone system

general assessment

NA

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/Sint Maarten (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

6,300 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

27,000 (2009)

Airports

3 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Roadways

paved

82 km

total

175 km

unpaved

93 km (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,611 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,987 females age 16-49: 3,354 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

111 (2010 est.)

male

111

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe page last updated on December 29, 2010 ======================================================================