2024 Edition Primary

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

note

note: 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

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% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)

forest

24.3% (2018 est.)

other

29% (2018 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

10.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

46.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12.6

potential support ratio

8 (2021)

total dependency ratio

32.8

youth dependency ratio

20.2

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

Education expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2020 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

0.67 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

16 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

38.9 years

male

38.1 years

total

38.5 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

British Virgin Islander

noun

British Virgin Islander(s)

Net migration rate

12.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density

NA

Population

female

21,060 (2024 est.)

male

19,042

total

40,102

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

Population growth rate

1.82% (2024 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

rural: 97.5% of population

improved: total

total: 97.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.5% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 2.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.5% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2018)

male

12 years

total

12 years

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

1.38 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

49.7% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

etymology

name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where ships can lie reasonably safely at anchor sheltered from rip currents, spring tides, or ocean swells

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

amendments

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; amended 2015

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 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

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)

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 Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)

note

note; on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE was removed from office by a no confidence vote in House of Assembly following his arrest on drug trafficking and money laundering charges on 28 April 2022; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022

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

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 - 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 His Majesty, King Charles III; 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 members in a single, nationwide constituency 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 39.6%, NDP 29.1, PVIM 15.7%, PU 5%, independent 10.6%; seats by party - VIP 6, NDP 3, PVIM 3, PU 1; composition - men NA, women NA, percentage women NA%; note - percentages reflect 9 elected single seat constituencies, seat total includes four nationwide at-large elected members

elections

last held on 24 April 2023 (next to be held in 2027)

National anthem

note: as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the King" 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

National Democratic Party or NDPProgressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIMProgressives United or PUVirgin 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

Exports 2015

$23 million (2015 est.)

Exports 2017

$23 million (2017 est.)

note

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

aircraft, recreational boats, ships, hydrogen, halogens (2021)

Exports - partners

Malta 30%, Seychelles 29%, Switzerland 14% (2019)

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)

$1.38 billion (2018 est.)

Imports

Imports 2016

$210 million (2016 est.)

Imports 2017

$300 million (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities

recreational boats, aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, furniture (2019)

Imports - partners

Germany 32%, United States 22%, Italy 9%, France 7%, Seychelles 7% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

1.1% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

0.4% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.8% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$481.1 million (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016

$490.2 million (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017

$500 million (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

1.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

1.9% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

2% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2017

$34,200 (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2015

2.9% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

191,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

191,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

imports

20 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

161.368 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

47,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10.179 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

99.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

0.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

87.47 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2020 est.)

total

6,738 (2020 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

77.7% (2021 est.)

total

24,087 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line connections exceed 22 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 110 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel; the company filed for bankruptcy in the US in April 2020; it continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt; the other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue; CWC is expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. (2021)

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

73 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

23,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

121 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

38,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

3 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-L

Heliports

1 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 3, other 26

total

29 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Road Harbor

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

1

total ports

1 (2024)

Roadways

paved

200 km (2007)

total

200 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Illicit drugs

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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.21 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

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

Land use

agricultural land

46.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)

forest

24.3% (2018 est.)

other

29% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

49.7% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

21,099 tons (2000 est.)