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

Budget [time series]

revenues $32.8 million; expenditures $32.4 million, including capital expenditures of $6.3 million (FY90)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

US currency is used

Economic aid [time series]

NA

Electricity [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

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

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

1.0% (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]

NEGL%

Climate [time series]

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline [time series]

80 km Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October

Land use [time series]

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

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

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

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]

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

National holiday [time series]

Territory Day, 1 July

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 18 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, independent 2

Government type (Type) [time series]

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate [time series]

19 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

black over 90%, remainder of white and Asian origin

Infant mortality rate [time series]

14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

4,911 (1980)

Languages (Language) [time series]

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

72 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

NA% of labor force

Population [time series]

12,396 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

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 [time series]

2.1 children born/woman (1991)

British Virgin Islands