1996 Edition

Description

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 a yellow 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

Location

18 30 N, 64 30 W -- Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Flag ----

18 20 N, 64 50 W -- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Flag ----

Area

comparative area

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

comparative area

twice the size of Washington, DC

land area

150 sq km

land area

349 sq km

note

includes the island of Anegada

total area

150 sq km

total area

352 sq km

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, 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)

current issues

lack of natural freshwater resources

international agreements

NA

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

natural hazards

rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes

Geographic coordinates

18 30 N, 64 30 W

18 20 N, 64 50 W

Geographic 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

International disputes

none

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

0 km

Land use

arable land

20%

arable land

15%

forest and woodland

7%

forest and woodland

6%

meadows and pastures

33%

meadows and pastures

26%

other

33%

other

47%

permanent crops

7%

permanent crops

6%

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 economic zone

200 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

3 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

NEGL

sun, sand, sea, surf

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

highest point

Mount Sage 521 m

highest point

Crown Mountain 474 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

20.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

17.57 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black 90%, white, Asian

black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

Infant mortality rate

19.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English (official)

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.75 years (1996 est.)

female

77.2 years (1996 est.)

male

70.93 years

male

73.6 years

total population

72.78 years

total population

75.29 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)

NA

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

97.8%

Nationality

adjective

British Virgin Islander

adjective

Virgin Islander

noun

British Virgin Islander(s)

noun

Virgin Islander(s)

Net migration rate

-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

-12.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

13,195 (July 1996 est.)

97,120 (July 1996 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

1.29% (1996 est.)

-0.06% (1996 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%

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)

2.29 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Data code

VI

VQ

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council is appointed by the governor

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995) who was appointed by the queen

chief of state

President (of the United States) William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)

head of government

Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) was appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council

head of government

Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995) were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 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 a yellow 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)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)

ECLAC (associate), IOC

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

US District Court, handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases, judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases, judges appointed by the governor

Legal system

English law

based on US laws

Legislative branch

unicameral

unicameral

Legislative Council

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

Name of country

abbreviation

BVI

conventional long form

none

conventional long form

Virgin Islands of the United States

conventional short form

British Virgin Islands

conventional short form

Virgin Islands

former

Danish West Indies

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); 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

Type of government

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 House of Representatives

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

Agriculture

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget

expenditures

$76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)

expenditures

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

revenues

$77.1 million

revenues

$364.4 million

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

$NA

$NA

Economic overview

The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands have used the dollar as their currency since 1959.

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.

Electricity

capacity

10,500 kW

capacity

320,000 kW

consumption per capita

3,148 kWh (1993)

consumption per capita

9,172 kWh (1993)

production

50 million kWh

production

970 million kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

US currency is used

Exports

$2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)

$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities

rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals

commodities

refined petroleum products

partners

Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

partners

US, Puerto Rico

External debt

$4.5 million (1985)

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $133 million (1991 est.)

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

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$10,600 (1991 est.)

$12,500 (1987 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2% (1991 est.)

NA%

Imports

$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)

$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

commodities

crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

partners

Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

partners

US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production growth rate

4% (1985)

12% (year NA)

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%

Labor force

4,911 (1980)

47,443 (1990 est.)

by occupation

NA

by occupation

agriculture, industry, services, other (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate

NEGL% (1992)

3.7% (1992)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

defense is the responsibility of the US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)

Radios

9,000 (1992 est.)

105,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

worldwide telephone service

domestic

NA

domestic

modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay

international

submarine cable to Bermuda

international

submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA

Telephones

6,291 (1990 est.)

60,000 (1990 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

4 (1988 est.)

Televisions

4,000 (1992 est.) Defense

65,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

note

international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1995 est.)

total

3

total

2

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

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 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

NA km

paved

NA km

total

106 km (1983 est.)

total

856 km

unpaved

NA km

unpaved

NA km

Merchant marine

none (1995 est.)

none

Ports

Road Town

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Railways

0 km

0 km