1995 Edition

Area

total area: 150 sq km land area: 150 sq km comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes the island of Anegada

total area: 352 sq km land area: 349 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November

Coastline

80 km

188 km

Environment

current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment) natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) international agreements: NA

current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources natural hazards: rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes international agreements: NA

International disputes

none

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

0 km

Land use

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

arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 26% forest and woodland: 6% other: 47%

Location

Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

negligible

sun, sand, sea, surf

Note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

20.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

18.49 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate

6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black 90%, white, Asian

black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

Infant mortality rate

19.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force

4,911 (1980) by occupation: NA

45,500 (1988) by occupation: tourism 70%

Languages

English (official)

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.73 years male: 70.88 years female: 74.7 years (1995 est.)

total population: 75.29 years male: 73.6 years female: 77.2 years (1995 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%

NA%

Nationality

noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander

noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

-16.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population

13,027 (July 1995 est.)

97,229 (July 1995 est.) note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%

Population growth rate

1.27% (1995 est.)

-0.29% (1995 est.)

Religions

Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)

Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

Total fertility rate

2.27 children born/woman (1995 est.)

2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Abbreviation

BVI

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Capital

Road Town

Charlotte Amalie

Constitution

1 June 1977

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Digraph

VI

VQ

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Peter Alfred PENFOLD (since 14 October 1991) head of government: Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA September 1986) cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor

chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995); Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995); election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (Independent) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

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)

white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Legal system

English law

based on US

Legislative branch

unicameral

unicameral

Legislative Council

election last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held on NA February 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (13 total) VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3 note: legislature was expanded to 13 seats as of election on 20 February 1995

Member of

CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)

ECLAC (associate), IOC

Names

conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands

conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States conventional short form: Virgin Islands

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)

Political parties and leaders

United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT; Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), E. Walwyln BREWLEY

Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

Senate

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) Democrats 7, Independents 7, Republican 1

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Territorial Court

handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases

Type

dependent territory of the UK

organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

US District Court

handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases

US House of Representatives

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (Independent) 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) Independent 1; note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House of Representatives

Agriculture

livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle

Budget

revenues: $51 million expenditures: $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)

revenues: $364.4 million expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

$NA

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42 million

Electricity

capacity: 10,500 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,148 kWh (1993)

capacity: 320,000 kW production: 970 million kWh consumption per capita: 9,172 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

US currency is used

Exports

$2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: refined petroleum products partners: US, Puerto Rico

External debt

$4.5 million (1985)

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

1 October - 30 September

Imports

$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials partners: US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production

growth rate 4% (1985)

growth rate 12% (year NA); accounts for NA% of GDP

Industries

tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center

tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (1990 est.)

NA%

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $133 million (1991)

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1987 est.)

National product per capita

$10,600 (1991)

$11,000 (1987)

National product real growth rate

2% (1991)

NA%

Overview

The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean area, 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, incorporation fees generated about $2 million in 1987. The economy slowed in 1991 because of the poor performances of the tourist sector and tight commercial bank credit. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.

Unemployment rate

NEGL% (1992)

3.7% (1992)

Radio

broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA

broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988) radios: 98,000

Telephone system

3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone service local: NA intercity: NA international: submarine cable communication links to Bermuda

58,931 telephones; modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities local: NA intercity: NA international: NA

Television

broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

broadcast stations: 4 (1988) televisions: 63,000

Airports

total: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

total: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix

Highways

total: 106 km (1983) paved: NA unpaved: NA

total: 856 km paved: NA unpaved: NA

Merchant marine

none

none

Ports

Road Town

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Railroads

0 km

0 km

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK ________________________________________________________________________ BRUNEI

defense is the responsibility of the US ________________________________________________________________________ WAKE ISLAND (territory of the US)