2012 Edition

Background

First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.

Area

151 sq km 151 sq km 0 sq km comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke

total

151 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline

80 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m Mount Sage 521 m

highest point

Mount Sage 521 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments

Geographic coordinates

18 30 N, 64 30 W

Geography - note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

20% 6.67% 73.33% (2005)

arable land

20%

other

73.33% (2005)

permanent crops

6.67%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

3 nm 200 nm

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

Age structure

17.7% (male 2,711/ female 2,808) 75% (male 11,187/ female 12,177) 7.3% (male 1,102/ female 1,163) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

17.7% (male 2,711/ female 2,808)

15-64 years

75% (male 11,187/ female 12,177)

65 years and over

7.3% (male 1,102/ female 1,163) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

10.69 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

4.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

black 82%, white 6.8%, other 11.2% (includes Indian and mixed) (2008)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

14.43 deaths/1,000 live births 16.41 deaths/1,000 live births 12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

14.43 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

77.95 years 76.73 years 79.24 years (2012 est.)

female

79.24 years (2012 est.)

total population

77.95 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 97.8% NA NA (1991 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA (1991 est.)

male

NA

total population

97.8%

Major cities - population

ROAD TOWN (capital) 9,000 (2009)

Median age

35 years 35 years 35.1 years (2012 est.)

female

35.1 years (2012 est.)

male

35 years

total

35 years

Nationality

British Virgin Islander(s) British Virgin Islander

adjective

British Virgin Islander

noun

British Virgin Islander(s)

Net migration rate

18.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Population

31,148 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

2.443% (2012 est.)

Religions

Protestant 84% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population

urban

100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

15 years 15 years 16 years (2009)

female

16 years (2009)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

0.96 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.22 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

41% of total population (2010) 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

41% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

Road Town 18 25 N, 64 37 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

18 25 N, 64 37 W

name

Road Town

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

13 June 2007

Country name

none British Virgin Islands BVI

abbreviation

BVI

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

British Virgin Islands

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Boyd MCCLEARY (since 20 August 2010) Premier Orlando SMITH (since 9 November 2011) Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

cabinet

Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Boyd MCCLEARY (since 20 August 2010)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

head of government

Premier Orlando SMITH (since 9 November 2011)

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); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint, the other lamps symbolize her followers

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats, a speaker elected by the 13 members of the House of Assembly, and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms) last held on 7 November 2011 (next to be held in 2015) percent of vote by party - NDP 49.4%, VIP 42%, other 8.6%; seats by party - NDP 9, VIP 4

election results

percent of vote by party - NDP 49.4%, VIP 42%, other 8.6%; seats by party - NDP 9, VIP 4

elections

last held on 7 November 2011 (next to be held in 2015)

National anthem

as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

note

as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

Political parties and leaders

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk environmentalists

other

environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Budget

$300 million $300 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$300 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$300 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0% of GDP (2012 est.)

Current account balance

$362.6 million (2010 est.) $279.8 million (2010 est.)

Debt - external

$36.1 million (1997)

Economy - overview

The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism generating an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. 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, made 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 traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$38.5 million (2011 est.) $20.1 million (2010 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

1% 11.7% 87.3% (2012 est.)

agriculture

1%

industry

11.7%

services

87.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$38,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.095 billion (2008)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$853.4 million (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$275.1 million (2011 est.) $296.1 million (2010 est.) (2010 est.)

Imports - commodities

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2012 est.) 4.1% (2011 est.)

Labor force

12,770 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

0.6% 40% 59.4% (2005)

agriculture

0.6%

industry

40%

services

59.4% (2005)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

27.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.6% (1997)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

147,800 Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

46.5 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

10,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

50 million kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

783 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half dozen private radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.vg

Internet hosts

505 (2012)

Internet users

4,000 (2002)

Telephone system

good overall telephone service fixed line connections exceed 80 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 150 per 100 persons country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2011)

domestic

fixed line connections exceed 80 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 150 per 100 persons

general assessment

good overall telephone service

international

country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

26,800 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

46,800 (2010)

Airports

4 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2012)

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2012)

total

2

Ports and terminals

Road Harbor

Roadways

200 km 200 km (2007)

total

200 km

Manpower available for military service

7,266 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

7,266 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

6,057 5,805 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

5,805 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,057

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

162 (2010 est.)

female

162 (2010 est.)

male

168

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering