1997 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1997 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total: 150 sq km land: 150 sq km water: 0 sq km note : includes the island of Anegada
Area - comparative
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline
80 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Environment - current issues
limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
Environment - international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
18 30 N, 64 30 W
Geography - note
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 33% forests and woodland: 7% other : 33% (1993 est.)
Location
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the 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
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years : NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
20.13 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate
6.03 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Ethnic groups
black 90%, white, Asian
Infant mortality rate
18.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Languages
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 72.83 years male: 70.99 years female: 74.8 years (1997 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Net migration rate
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Population
13,368 (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate
1.32% (1997 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)
Sex ratio
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 total population: NA male(s)/female
Total fertility rate
2.25 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution
1 June 1977
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Data code
VI
Dependency status
dependent territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995) head of government : Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections : none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
Flag 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)
Government type
NA
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Judicial branch
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court
Legal system
English law
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of 9 electoral districts, 4 at large members; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
National capital
Road Town
National holiday
Territory Day, 1 July
Political parties and leaders
United Party or UP [Conrad MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]; Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [E. Walwyln BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement or IPM [Omar HODGE and Allen O'NEAL]
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Budget
revenues: $77.1 million expenditures : $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)
Currency
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Debt - external
$4.5 million (1985)
Economic aid
$NA
Economy - 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.
Electricity - capacity
NA kW
Electricity - consumption per capita
NA kWh
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
total value: $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities : rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity - $135 million (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 3% industry: 14% services: 83% (1989)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $10,200 (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4% (1995 est.)
Imports
total value: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Industrial production growth rate
4% (1985)
Industries
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Inflation rate - consumer price index
2.5% (1990 est.)
Labor force
total: 4,911 (1980) by occupation: tourism NA%
Unemployment rate
3% (1995)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1995)
Radios
9,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Telephones
6,291 (1990 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1
Televisions
4,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
3 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Highways
total: 113 km (1995 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Merchant marine
none (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors
Road Town
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none ______________________________________________________________________ BRUNEI