British Virgin Islands




                                  Header


Affiliation:
     (dependent territory of the UK)


                                 Geography


Location:
     Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto
     Rico
Map references:
     Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
     150 sq km
land area:
     150 sq km
comparative area:
     about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
     includes the island of Anegada
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     80 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     3 nm
International disputes:
     none
Climate:
     subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
     coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Natural resources:
     negligible
Land use:
arable land:
     20%
permanent crops:
     7%
meadows and pastures:
     33%
forest and woodland:
     7%
other:
     33%
Irrigated land:
     NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
     NA




natural hazards:
     subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
international agreements:
     NA
Note:
     strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico


                                  People


Population:
     12,864 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     1.24% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
     20.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
     6.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
     -1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
     19.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
     72.67 years
male:
     70.83 years
female:
     74.65 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
     2.27 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
     British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective:
     British Virgin Islander
Ethnic divisions:
     black 90%, white, Asian
Religions:
     Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%,
     Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other
     2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages:
     English (official)
Literacy:
     age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
total population:
     98%
male:
     98%
female:
     98%
Labor force:
     4,911 (1980)
by occupation:
     NA






                                Government


Names:
conventional long form:
     none
conventional short form:
Abbreviation:
     BVI
Digraph:
     VI
Type:
     dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
     Road Town
Administrative divisions:
     none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
     none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
     Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution:
     1 June 1977
Legal system:
     English law
Suffrage:
     18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
     Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
     Peter Alfred PENFOLD (since 14 October 1991)
head of government:
     Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA September 1986)
cabinet:
     Executive Council; appointed by the governor
Legislative branch:
     unicameral
Legislative Council:
     election last held 12 November 1990 (next to be held by November
     1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) VIP 6,
     IPM 1, independents 2
Judicial branch:
     Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
     United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H.
     Lavity STOUTT; Independent Progressive Movement (IPM), E. Walwyln
     BREWLEY
Member of:
     CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau),
     IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
     none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
     none (dependent territory of the UK)




Flag:
     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)


                                  Economy


Overview:
     The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean area, is
     highly dependent on the tourist industry, which generates about 21% of
     the national income. In 1985 the government offered offshore
     registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and,
     in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2 million in 1987.
     The economy slowed in 1991 because of the poor performances of the
     tourist sector and tight commercial bank credit. Livestock raising is
     the most significant agricultural activity. The islands' crops,
     limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.
National product:
     GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $133 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
     2% (1991)
National product per capita:
     $10,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     2.5% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
     NEGL% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
     $51 million
expenditures:
     $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)
Exports:
     $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
     rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
partners:
     Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports:
     $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
     building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
partners:
     Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
External debt:
     $4.5 million (1985)
Industrial production:
     growth rate 4% (1985)
Electricity:
capacity:
     10,500 kW
production:
     43 million kWh




consumption per capita:
     3,510 kWh (1990)
Industries:
     tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore
     financial center
Agriculture:
     livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
Economic aid:
     $NA
Currency:
     1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
     US currency is used
Fiscal year:
     1 April - 31 March


                              Communications


Highways:
total:
     106 km (1983)
paved:
     NA
unpaved:
     NA
Ports:
     Road Town
Airports:
total:
     3
usable:
     3
with permanent-surface runways:
     2
with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
     0
Telecommunications:
     3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone service; submarine
     cable communication links to Bermuda; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no
     FM, 1 TV


                              Defense Forces


Note:
     defense is the responsibility of the UK