2019 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. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.

Area

Land

151 sq km

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

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 desalination plants; sewage and mining/industry waste contribute to water pollution, threatening coral reefs

Geographic Coordinates

18 30 N, 64 30 W

Geography Note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

46.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

6.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

6.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

33.3% (2011 est.)

Forest

24.3% (2011 est.)

Other

29% (2011 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; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Population Distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Age Structure

0 14 Years

16.72% (male 2,949 /female 3,036)

15 24 Years

12.98% (male 2,223 /female 2,425)

25 54 Years

49.05% (male 8,230 /female 9,330)

55 64 Years

11.93% (male 2,073 /female 2,199)

65 Years And Over

9.32% (male 1,611 /female 1,726) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

11.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

98% of population

Improved Total

98% of population

Improved Urban

98% of population

Unimproved Rural

2% of population

Unimproved Total

2% of population (2010 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2% of population

Education Expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

African/black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, white 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

10 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

13.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

80.4 years

Male

77.5 years

Total Population

78.9 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median Age

Female

36.9 years

Male

36.5 years

Total

36.7 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

British Virgin Islander

Noun

British Virgin Islander(s)

Net Migration Rate

16.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Population

35,802 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.2% (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

97.5% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

97.5% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

97.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

2.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

2.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.5% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

NA (2015)

Total

14 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

0.97 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.92 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.88 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.93 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.91 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.3 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.42% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

48.1% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

18 25 N, 64 37 W

Name

Road Town

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)

Country Name

Abbreviation

BVI

Conventional Long Form

none

Conventional Short Form

British Virgin Islands

Etymology

the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

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

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 Gus JASPERT (since 22 August 2017)

Elections Appointments

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

Head Of Government

Premier Andrew FAHIE (since 26 February 2019)

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

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 3 in 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

Description

unicameral House of Assembly (15 seats; 13 members - 9 in single-seat constituencies and 4 at-large seats directly elected by simple majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and the speaker - chosen from outside the House; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - VIP 46.5%, NDP 28.2%, PVIM 17.4%, PU 8%; seats by party - VIP 8, NDP 3, PVIM 1, PU 1; composition - men 12, women 3, percent of women 20%

Elections

last held on 25 February 2019 (next to be held in 2023)

National Anthem

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

National Holiday

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

National Symbol S

zenaida dove, white cedar flower; national colors: yellow, green, red, white, blue

Political Parties And Leaders

National Democratic Party or NDP [Myron WALWYN] People's Empowerment Party or PEP [Alvin CHRISTOPHER] Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM [Ronnie SKELTON] Progressives United or PU [Julian FRASER] Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Andrew FAHIE]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Budget

Expenditures

400 million (2017 est.)

Revenues

400 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current Account Balance

2010

$279.8 million

2011

$362.6 million

Debt External

1997

$36.1 million

Economy Overview

The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements.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.

Exchange Rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

2015

$23 million

2017

$23 million

Exports Commodities

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

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

94.7% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

7.5% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

25.1% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-69.4% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

21.7% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

20.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

0.2% (2017 est.)

Industry

6.8% (2017 est.)

Services

93.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$1.028 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2017

$34,200

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$481.1 million

2016

$490.2 million

2017

$500 million

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

1.8%

2016

1.9%

2017

2%

Imports

2016

$210 million

2017

$300 million NA

Imports Commodities

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.1% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

1.1%

2017

1.1%

Labor Force

12,770 (2004)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

0.6%

Industry

40%

Services

59.4% (2005)

Taxes And Other Revenues

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2015

2.9%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

183,300 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Consumption

117.5 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

45,200 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

126.3 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

1,227 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 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

Internet Country Code

.vg

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

43.6% (July 2016 est.)

Total

14,600

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line connections exceed 29 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 125 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

good overall telephone service; major expansion sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments, which continue to appeal to operator investment; several operators licensed to provide services within individual markets, most of them are small and localised (2018)

International

country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

29 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

10,004

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

126 (July 2106 est.)

Total Subscriptions

42,000

Airports

4 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

1

Total

2 (2019)

Under 914 M

1

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

2 (2013)

Total

2 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

VP-L (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 4, other 21 (2018)

Total

25

National Air Transport System

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

3 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Road Harbor

Roadways

Paved

200 km (2007)

Total

200 km (2007)

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