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; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

Budget

revenues $51 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)

Currency

US currency is used

Economic aid

NA

Electricity

10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced, 3,510 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988) 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

purchasing power equivalent - $130 million, per capita $10,600; real growth rate 6.3% (1990)

Imports

$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988) 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)

2.5% (1990 est.)

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

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline

80 km

Comparative area

about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Disputes

none

Environment

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October

Land area

150 km2; includes the island of Anegada

Land use

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

Maritime claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural resources

negligible

Note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Total area

150 km2

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Road Town

Constitution

1 June 1977

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of UK)

Elections

Legislative Council: 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

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

Leaders

Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor P. A. PENFOLD (since NA 1991) 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

CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate)

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

Political parties and leaders

United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT; Independent Progressive Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate

20 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Ethnic divisions

over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin

Infant mortality rate

20 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Labor force

4,911 (1980)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

71 years male, 75 years female (1992)

Literacy

98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

--2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Organized labor

NA% of labor force

Population

12,555 (July 1992), growth rate 1.2% (1992)

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)

Total fertility rate

2.3 children born/woman (1992)