British Virgin Islands

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

name: Road Town geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) 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

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024) head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly 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 note: on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE was removed from office by a no-confidence vote in the House of Assembly after his arrest on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY was sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022

legislature name: House of Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 15 (directly elected and appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/24/2023 parties elected and seats per party: VIP (6); NDP (3); PVIM (3); PU (1) expected date of next election: 2027

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

history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007) 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

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

defense is the responsibility of the UK

$1.634 billion (2024 est.) $1.579 billion (2023 est.) $1.537 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

$40,500 (2024 est.) $38,600 (2023 est.) $38,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

8.5% (2022 est.) 2.8% (2021 est.) 1.4% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

revenues: $400 million (2017 est.) expenditures: $400 million (2017 est.)

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

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

total: 40,102 (2024 est.) male: 19,042 female: 21,060

1.78% (2025 est.)

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)

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

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

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

total population: 80.1 years (2024 est.) male: 78.6 years female: 81.7 years

urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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.)

English (official), Virgin Islands Creole

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.)

NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

refugees: 41 (2024 est.)

3 (2025)

total: 29 (2023) by type: general cargo 3, other 26

total subscriptions: 35,595 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93 (2024 est.)

percent of population: 78% (2017 est.)