1989 Edition

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline

80 km

Comparative area

about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Environment

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Flag

the flag of the UK is used

Land use

20% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 33% meadows and pastures; 7% forest and woodland; 33% other

Natural resources

negligible

Note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Territorial sea

3 nm

Total area

150 km2; land area: 150 km2

Birth rate

20 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

5 deaths/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin

Infant mortality rate

14 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

4,9 11 (1980)

Language

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

7 1 years male, 77 years female (1990)

Literacy

98%

Nationality

noun — British Virgin Islander^); adjective — British Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

— 3 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

NA

Population

12,258 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)

Religion

majority Methodist; others include Anglican, Church of God, SeventhDay Adventist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic

Total fertility rate

2.2 children born/ woman (1990)

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Road Town

Communists

probably none

Constitution

1 June 1977

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Elections

Legislative Council — last held 30 September 1986 (next to be held by September 1 99 1 ); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats— (9 total) UP 2, VIP 5, IPM 2

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)

Flag

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State — Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986); Head of Government — Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986) Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity Stoutt; Independent People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. Romney

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council

Long-form name

none

Member of

Commonwealth

National holiday

Territory Day, I July

Suffrage

universal at age 1 8

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Electricity

provided by the US military

Overview

All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK and US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.

The economy is highly dependent on the tourist industry, which generates about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government offered offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and, in consequence,

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego Garcia

Highways

short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK 10km North Atlantic Ocean Caribbean Sea

Ports

Diego Garcia

Telecommunications

minimal facilities; stations (operated by the US Navy) — 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station Defense Forces