2013 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

6.67% 6.67% 86.67% (2011)

arable land

6.67%

other

86.67% (2011)

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

17.4% (male 2,734/female 2,831) 14.8% (male 2,251/female 2,460) 49.9% (male 7,549/female 8,384) 10.3% (male 1,628/female 1,654) 7.6% (male 1,180/female 1,241) (2013 est.)

0-14 years

17.4% (male 2,734/female 2,831)

15-24 years

14.8% (male 2,251/female 2,460)

25-54 years

49.9% (male 7,549/female 8,384)

55-64 years

10.3% (male 1,628/female 1,654)

65 years and over

7.6% (male 1,180/female 1,241) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

10.78 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Death rate

4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98% of population rural: 98% of population total: 98% of population urban: 2% of population rural: 2% of population total: 2% of population (2010 est.)

rural

2% of population

total

2% of population (2010 est.)

urban

2% of population

Education expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2010)

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

13.93 deaths/1,000 live births 15.85 deaths/1,000 live births 11.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

female

11.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total

13.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

78.12 years 76.86 years 79.45 years (2013 est.)

female

79.45 years (2013 est.)

total population

78.12 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 urban areas - population

ROAD TOWN (capital) 10,000 (2011)

Median age

35.3 years 35.3 years 35.4 years (2013 est.)

female

35.4 years (2013 est.)

male

35.3 years

total

35.3 years

Nationality

British Virgin Islander(s) British Virgin Islander

adjective

British Virgin Islander

noun

British Virgin Islander(s)

Net migration rate

18.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Population

31,912 (July 2013 est.)

Population growth rate

2.4% (2013 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 (2010 est.)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2010 est.)

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

1.05 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

0-14 years

0.97 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.92 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.9 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.24 children born/woman (2013 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

several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (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

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include the British Virgin Islands; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 3 High Court judges reside in member states; 3 High Court judges reside on the British Virgin Islands Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 Magistrates' Courts

highest court(s)

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include the British Virgin Islands; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 3 High Court judges reside in member states; 3 High Court judges reside on the British Virgin Islands

judge selection and term of office

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts

Magistrates' Courts

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

$26 million (2012 est.) $25 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

34.9% 8.4% 23.9% -2% 111.8% -77% (2012 est.)

exports of goods and services

111.8%

government consumption

8.4%

household consumption

34.9%

imports of goods and services

-77%

investment in fixed capital

23.9%

investment in inventories

-2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

1.1% 11.6% 87.3% (2012 est.)

agriculture

1.1%

industry

11.6%

services

87.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$42,300 (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.3% (2010 est.) -0.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.095 billion (2008)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$500 million (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$310 million (2012 est.) $320 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2012 est.) 2.5% (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

8.7% (2010 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

147,200 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)

Electricity - consumption

46.5 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

44,000 kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

50 million kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

772.6 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 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

12,268 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

48,700 (2012)

Airports

4 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

total

2

Ports and terminals

Road Harbor

seaport(s)

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