Airports [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

106 km motorable roads (1983)

Ports [time series]

Road Town

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

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

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

Aid [time series]

NA

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

US currency is used

Electricity [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

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

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4.5 million (1985)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April-31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate - 4.0% (1985)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.7% (January 1987)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

NA%

Climate [time series]

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline [time series]

80 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Continental shelf [time series]

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October

Exclusive fishing zone [time series]

200 nm;

Land use [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

negligible

Note [time series]

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Terrain [time series]

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

3 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

150 km2; land area: 150 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital [time series]

Road Town

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

probably none

Constitution [time series]

1 June 1977

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag [time series]

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 [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

English law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Council

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

none

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

Commonwealth

National holiday [time series]

Territory Day, 1 July

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

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

Government type (Type) [time series]

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate [time series]

20 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin

Infant mortality rate [time series]

14 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

4,911 (1980)

Languages (Language) [time series]

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

71 years male, 77 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

98%

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

NA

Population [time series]

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

Religions (Religion) [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.2 children born/woman (1990)

British Virgin Islands