2012 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

91 sq km 91 sq km 0 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

Caribbean Sea 0 m Crocus Hill 65 m

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

0% 0% 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)

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

3 nm 200 nm

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

23.8% (male 1,882/ female 1,786) 68.2% (male 4,945/ female 5,575) 8% (male 605/ female 630) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

23.8% (male 1,882/ female 1,786)

15-64 years

68.2% (male 4,945/ female 5,575)

65 years and over

8% (male 605/ female 630) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

12.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

4.41 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 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

3.44 deaths/1,000 live births 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

3.44 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

80.98 years 78.42 years 83.63 years (2012 est.)

female

83.63 years (2012 est.)

total population

80.98 years

Literacy

age 12 and over can read and write 95% 95% 95% (1984 est.)

definition

age 12 and over can read and write

female

95% (1984 est.)

male

95%

total population

95%

Major cities - population

THE VALLEY (capital) 2,000 (2009)

Median age

33.6 years 32.1 years 35 years (2012 est.)

female

35 years (2012 est.)

male

32.1 years

total

33.6 years

Nationality

Anguillan(s) Anguillan

adjective

Anguillan

noun

Anguillan(s)

Net migration rate

12.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Population

15,423 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

2.146% (2012 est.)

Religions

Protestant 83.1% (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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99% of population total: 99% of population urban: 1% of population total: 1% of population

total

1% of population

urban

1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 11 years 11 years (2008)

female

11 years (2008)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.96 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

100% of total population (2010) 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

The Valley 18 13 N, 63 03 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

none Anguilla

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

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alistair HARRISON (since 21 April 2009) Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 February 2010) Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly 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

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 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

common law based on the English model

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) last held on 15 February 2010 (next to be held in 2015) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AUM 4, AUF 2, APP 1

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

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

lyrics/music

Alex RICHARDSON

name

"God Bless Anguilla"

National holiday

Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

National symbol(s)

dolphin

Political parties and leaders

Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Brent DAVIS]; 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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Budget

$22.8 million $22.5 million (2009 est.)

expenditures

$22.5 million (2009 est.)

revenues

$22.8 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.4% (31 December 2012 est.) 9.29% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$68.37 million (2012 est.) -$54.33 million (2011 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.

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.), 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$12.65 million (2012 est.) $12.2 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

2.2% 28.5% 69.3% (2012 est.)

agriculture

2.2%

industry

28.5%

services

69.3% (2012 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

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$138.6 million (2012 est.) $140.1 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2012 est.) 6.1% (2011 est.)

Labor force

6,049 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

4% 3% 18% 10% 36% 29% (2000 est.)

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

$383.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) $375.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$514.7 million (31 December 2012 est.) $503.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$18.2 million (31 December 2012 est.) $17.84 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13% of GDP (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (2002)

Broadcast media

1 private TV 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

269 (2012)

Internet users

3,700 (2009)

Telephone system

modern internal telephone system fixed-line teledensity is roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 170 per 100 persons country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System 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 (2011)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 170 per 100 persons

general assessment

modern internal telephone system

international

country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System 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 (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

6,200 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

26,000 (2011)

Airports

3 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2012)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2012)

total

2

under 914 m

2 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Roadways

175 km 82 km 93 km (2004)

total

175 km

unpaved

93 km (2004)

Manpower available for military service

3,641 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,641 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

3,009 3,397 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

3,397 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,009

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

113 (2010 est.)

female

113 (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