British Virgin Islands

Airports

3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways less than 1,220 m

Highways

106 km motorable roads (1983)

Ports

Road Town

Telecommunications

3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone service; submarine cable communication links to Bermuda; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

Aid

NA

Budget

revenues $26.2 million; expenditures $25.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)

Currency

US currency is used

Electricity

13,500 kW capacity; 59 million kWh produced, 4,870 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$2.3 million (f.o.b., 1985); commodities--rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals; partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

External debt

$4.5 million (1985)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

GDP

$106.7 million, per capita $8,900; real growth rate 2.5% (1987)

Imports

$72.0 million (c.i.f., 1985); commodities--building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery; partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Industrial production

growth rate - 4.0% (1985)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (January 1987)

Overview

The economy 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. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline

80 km

Comparative area

about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Environment

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm;

Land use

20% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 33% meadows and pastures; 7% forest and woodland; 33% other

Natural resources

negligible

Note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Territorial sea

3 nm

Total area

150 km2; land area: 150 km2

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Road Town

Communists

probably none

Constitution

1 June 1977

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)

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)

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986); Head of Government--Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council

Long-form name

none

Member of

Commonwealth

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

Political parties and leaders

United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity Stoutt; Independent People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. Romney

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Legislative Council--last held 30 September 1986 (next to be held by September 1991); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(9 total) UP 2, VIP 5, IPM 2

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate

20 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin

Infant mortality rate

14 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

4,911 (1980)

Language

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

71 years male, 77 years female (1990)

Literacy

98%

Nationality

noun--British Virgin Islander(s); adjective--British Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

NA

Population

12,258 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)

Religion

majority Methodist; others include Anglican, Church of God, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic

Total fertility rate

2.2 children born/woman (1990)