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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half dozen private radio stations operating (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.vg

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

497 (2010) country comparison to the world: 180

Internet users [time series]

4,000 (2002) country comparison to the world: 206

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: worldwide telephone service domestic: fixed line connections exceed 80 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is approaching 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2008)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

20,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 194

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

24,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 206

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Current account balance [time series]

$134.3 million (1999) country comparison to the world: 56

Debt - external [time series]

$36.1 million (1997) country comparison to the world: 188

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism generating an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. 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, made 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 traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

41.85 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

45 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar is used

Exports [time series]

$25.3 million (2002) country comparison to the world: 203

Exports - commodities [time series]

rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.095 billion (2008)

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

$853.4 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 0.9% industry: 10.7% services: 88.3% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$38,500 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-0.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$187 million f.o.b.

Imports - commodities [time series]

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 180 2% (2005)

Labor force [time series]

12,770 (2004) country comparison to the world: 213

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4% (2005)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - consumption [time series]

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Oil - imports [time series]

691 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.6% (1997) country comparison to the world: 29

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 151 sq km country comparison to the world: 219 land: 151 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke

Area - comparative [time series]

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline [time series]

80 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 30 N, 64 30 W

Geography - note [time series]

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2005)

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]

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL

Terrain [time series]

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital [time series]

name: Road Town geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

13 June 2007

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI

Dependency status [time series]

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Boyd MCCLEARY (since 20 August 2010) head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

Flag (Flag description) [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); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint, the other lamps symbolize her followers

Government type [time series]

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Judicial branch [time series]

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Legal system [time series]

English law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday [time series]

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

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

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]

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

The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk other: environmentalists

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 7,230 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 6,028 females age 16-49: 5,778 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 174 female: 167 (2010 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19.8% (male 2,454/female 2,387) 15-64 years: 74.4% (male 9,346/female 8,881) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 734/female 689) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Death rate [time series]

4.41 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.2% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 145

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 82%, white 6.8%, other 11.2% (includes Indian and mixed) (2008)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 14.11 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 128 male: 16.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.45 years country comparison to the world: 58 male: 76.18 years female: 78.78 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA female: NA

Median age [time series]

total: 32.6 years male: 32.7 years female: 32.5 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

7.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Population [time series]

24,939 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216

Population growth rate [time series]

1.784% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Religions [time series]

Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 19 years (2005)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.71 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 40% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering

Transportation

Airports [time series]

4 (2010) country comparison to the world: 184

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008) country comparison to the world: 149

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Road Harbor

Roadways [time series]

total: 200 km country comparison to the world: 207 paved: 200 km (2007)