2020 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 (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, and the US dollar is the legal currency. In 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, D.C.

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline

80 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Sage 521 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

46.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 33.3% (2023 est.)

forest

66.5% (2023 est.)

other

0% (2023 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

12 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

16.6% (male 3,298/female 3,351)

15-64 years

71.3% (male 13,455/female 15,152)

65 years and over

12.1% (2024 est.) (male 2,289/female 2,557)

Birth rate

10.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

16.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

5.9 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

40.2 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

23.2 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

13.6% national budget (2025 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.68 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

16 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

English (official), Virgin Islands Creole

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.7 years

male

78.6 years

total population

80.1 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

38.9 years

male

38.1 years

total

38.8 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

British Virgin Islander

noun

British Virgin Islander(s)

Net migration rate

12.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population

female

21,060

male

19,042

total

40,102 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.78% (2025 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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2022 est.)

male

11 years (2022 est.)

total

11 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

0.98 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

49.7% of total population (2023)

Capital

etymology

name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where ships can still lie at anchor

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

amendment process

initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch

history

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 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 was shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024)

election/appointment process

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

head of government

Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)

Flag

description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman between two columns of six oil lamps, above a scroll with the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) meaning: Christopher COLUMBUS named the islands in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her virgin followers, and the figure holding a lamp represents the saint, with the other lamps symbolizing her followers

Government type

Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and 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 travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts

judge selection and term of office

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the British monarch; 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

expected date of next election

2027

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

House of Assembly

most recent election date

4/24/2023

number of seats

15 (directly elected and appointed)

parties elected and seats per party

VIP (6); NDP (3); PVIM (3); PU (1)

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National color(s)

yellow, green, red, white, blue

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

National symbol(s)

zenaida dove, white cedar flower

Political parties

National Democratic Party or NDP Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM Progressives United or PU Virgin Islands Party or VIP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Budget

expenditures

$400 million (2017 est.)

revenues

$400 million (2017 est.)

Economic overview

British Caribbean island territorial economy; strong tourism and services industries; vulnerable to hurricanes; navigating public debt insolvency since 2008 Crisis; considered a tax haven; high electrification costs; major rum exporter

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, molasses, precious stones (2023)

Exports - partners

Malta 33%, Guyana 22%, Greece 11%, Germany 7%, Indonesia 4% (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.598 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, railway cargo containers, jewelry (2023)

Imports - partners

USA 34%, Italy 10%, France 9%, China 8%, Luxembourg 5% (2023)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

1.4% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.8% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.537 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.579 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.634 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$38,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$38,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$40,500 (2024 est.)

Coal

imports

20 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

163.82 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

63,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10.18 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

97.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

66.998 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2022 est.)

total

7,000 (2022 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

78% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

23,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

93 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

35,595 (2022 est.)

Airports

3 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-L

Heliports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 3, other 26

total

29 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Road Harbor

large

0

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

1

small

0

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

0

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

41 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution from sewage and mining/industry waste; coral reef preservation

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

21,100 tons (2024 est.)