ARCHIVE // VG // 1992

British Virgin Islands

1992 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1992 CSV Excel Print All Years
Communications
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; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV
Defense Forces
Note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
Budget [time series]
revenues $51 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)
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]
purchasing power equivalent - $130 million, per capita $10,600; real growth rate 6.3% (1990)
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]
2.5% (1990 est.)
Economic overview (Overview) [time series]
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 [time series]
NEGL%
Geography
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
Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]
none
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October
Area (Land area) [time series]
150 km2; includes the island of Anegada
Land use [time series]
arable land 20%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures 33%; forest and woodland 7%; other 33%
Maritime claims [time series]
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 3 nm
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
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital [time series]
Road Town
Constitution [time series]
1 June 1977
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]
none (dependent territory of UK)
Executive branch (Elections) [time series]
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 [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
Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]
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 [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 (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate)
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 Progressive Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY
Suffrage [time series]
universal at age 18
Government type (Type) [time series]
dependent territory of the UK
People
Birth rate [time series]
20 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate [time series]
6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin
Infant mortality rate [time series]
20 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force [time series]
4,911 (1980)
Languages [time series]
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
71 years male, 75 years female (1992)
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]
--2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor [time series]
NA% of labor force
Population [time series]
12,555 (July 1992), growth rate 1.2% (1992)
Religions [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]
2.3 children born/woman (1992)