1998 Edition

Area

total: 150 sq km land: 150 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the island of Anegada

total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km

Area-comparative

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

twice the size of Washington, DC

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 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)

lack of natural freshwater resources

Environment-international agreements

party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geographic coordinates

18 30 N, 64 30 W

18 20 N, 64 50 W

Geography-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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

0 km

Land use

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 33% forests and woodland: 7% other: 33% (1993 est.)

arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 6% other: 47% (1993 est.)

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 hazards

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 21% (male 2,008; female 1,957) 15-64 years: 74% (male 7,079; female 6,689) 65 years and over: 5% (male 535; female 437) (July 1998 est.)

0-14 years: 29% (male 17,310; female 16,502) 15-64 years: 64% (male 34,434; female 40,645) 65 years and over: 7% (male 4,065; female 5,255) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

16.15 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

16.45 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

4.76 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

5.01 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

black 90%, white, Asian

black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

Infant mortality rate

22.97 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

English (official)

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.94 years male: 74.19 years female: 75.73 years (1998 est.)

total population: 78.3 years male: 74.68 years female: 82.15 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

NA

Nationality

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

noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

12.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

18,705 (July 1998 est.)

118,211 (July 1998 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

2.41% (1998 est.)

1.16% (1998 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

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.22 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.72 children born/woman (1998 est.)

2.32 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Constitution

1 June 1977

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Country name

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

conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies

Data code

VI

VQ

Dependency status

dependent territory of the UK

organized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

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

chief of state: President of the US 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) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995) cabinet: NA elections: governor and lieutenant governor of the Virgin Islands elected by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998) election results: Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER elected governor of the Virgin Islands; percent of vote-Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

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)

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

Government type

NA

NA

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)

ECLAC (associate), IOC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court 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. Walwyn BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement or IPM [Omar HODGE and Allen O'NEAL]

US District Court, handles civil matters over $200,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases; judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters of unlimited cash amount; felonies, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases; judges appointed by the governor Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

Legal system

English law

based on US laws

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

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 2 November 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-independents 6, Democrats 5, Republicans 2, Independent Citizens Movement 2 note: the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 19 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Donna GREEN (ICM) 51.5%, Victor O. FRAZER (independent) 48.5%

National capital

Road Town

Charlotte Amalie

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

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

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

Agriculture-products

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

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

Budget

revenues: $77.1 million expenditures: $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)

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

Debt-external

$4.5 million (1985)

$NA

Economic aid

$NA

$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. An estimated 210,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1996. 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 has 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 islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The number of US tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. 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. A major economic problem at the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental arrears, in income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.

Electricity-capacity

13,000 kW (1995)

316 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

3,224 kWh (1995)

10,285 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

42 million kWh (1995)

1 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

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

total value: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: refined petroleum products partners: US, Puerto Rico

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March Communications

1 October-30 September Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$144 million (1996 est.)

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

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 3% industry: 14% services: 83% (1989)

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$11,000 (1996 est.)

purchasing power parity-$12,500 (1987 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

4.5% (1996 est.)

NA%

Imports

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

total value: $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials partners: US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production growth rate

4% (1985)

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 price index

2.5% (1990 est.)

NA%

Labor force

total: 4,911 (1980) by occupation: tourism NA%

total: 47,443 (1990 est.) by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 62%, other 17% (1990)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1995)

AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)

Radios

9,000 (1992 est.)

105,000 (1994 est.)

Telephone system

worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda

domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay 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.)

66,000 (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

3% (1995)

6.2% (March 1994)

Airports

3 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

2 note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix; there is an airfield on St. John (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 113 km (1995 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Road Town

total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Merchant marine

none (1995 est.)

none

Railways

0 km

0 km

Military-note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes-international

none

none (territory of the US)