ARCHIVE // VG // 1996

British Virgin Islands

1996 Edition — territory

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Communications
Military - note (Defense note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
9,000 (1992 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
6,291 (1990 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1
Televisions [time series]
4,000 (1992 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $77.1 million expenditures: $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid [time series]
$NA
Economic overview [time series]
The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands have used the dollar as their currency since 1959.
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 10,500 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,148 kWh (1993)
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 parity - $133 million (1991 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]
$10,600 (1991 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
2% (1991 est.)
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 [time series]
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.)
Labor force [time series]
4,911 (1980) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate [time series]
NEGL% (1992)
Geography
Area [time series]
total area: 150 sq km land area: 150 sq km comparative area: about 0.9 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: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment) natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
18 30 N, 64 30 W
Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
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, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 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]
NEGL
Terrain [time series]
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital [time series]
Road Town
Constitution [time series]
1 June 1977
Data code [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 (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995) who was appointed by the queen head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) was appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council cabinet: Executive Council is 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)
International organization participation [time series]
Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Judicial branch [time series]
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Legal system [time series]
English law
Legislative branch (Legislative Council) [time series]
election last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (13 total) VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral
Country name (Name of country) [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
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); Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), E. Walwyln BREWLEY
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type (Type of government) [time series]
dependent territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
20.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
black 90%, white, Asian
Infant mortality rate [time series]
19.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 72.78 years male: 70.93 years female: 74.75 years (1996 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.) total population: 97.8% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality [time series]
noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Net migration rate [time series]
-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population [time series]
13,195 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.29% (1996 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)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 106 km (1983 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Merchant marine [time series]
none (1995 est.)
Ports [time series]
Road Town
Railways [time series]
0 km