ARCHIVE // VG // 1994

British Virgin Islands

1994 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
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Communications
Airports [time series]
total: 3 usable: 3 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 106 km (1983) paved: NA unpaved: NA
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 $38 million (1991)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid [time series]
$NA
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 10,500 kW production: 43 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,510 kWh (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
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% (1985)
Industries [time series]
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.5% (1990 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $133 million (1991)
Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]
$10,600 (1991)
Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]
2% (1991)
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. The economy slowed in 1991 because of the poor performances of the tourist sector and tight commercial bank credit. 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% (1992)
Geography
Area [time series]
total area: 150 sq km land area: 150 sq km comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes the island of Anegada
Climate [time series]
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline [time series]
80 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) international agreements: NA
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
none
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 33% forest and woodland: 7% other: 33%
Location [time series]
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto Rico
Map references [time series]
Central America and the Caribbean
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
Government
Abbreviation [time series]
BVI
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital [time series]
Road Town
Constitution [time series]
1 June 1977
Digraph [time series]
VI
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Peter Alfred PENFOLD (since 14 October 1991) head of government: Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA September 1986) cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor
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
Legal system [time series]
English law
Legislative branch (Legislative Council) [time series]
election 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
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral
International organization participation (Member of) [time series]
CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Country name (Names) [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
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), E. Walwyln BREWLEY
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type (Type) [time series]
dependent territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
People
Birth rate [time series]
20.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
black 90%, white, Asian
Infant mortality rate [time series]
19.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Labor force [time series]
4,911 (1980) by occupation: NA
Languages [time series]
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 72.67 years male: 70.83 years female: 74.65 years (1994 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%
Nationality [time series]
noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Net migration rate [time series]
-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Population [time series]
12,864 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.24% (1994 est.)
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]
2.27 children born/woman (1994 est.)