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

Internet country code [time series]

.vg

Internet users [time series]

total: 14,600 | percent of population: 43.6% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: good overall telephone service; major expansion sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments, which continue to appeal to operator investment; several operators licensed to provide services within individual markets, most of them are small and localised (2018) | domestic: fixed-line connections exceed 29 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 125 per 100 persons (2018) | international: country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 10,004 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 42,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (July 2106 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: 400 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 400 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$362.6 million (2011 est.) | $279.8 million (2010 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$36.1 million (1997)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar is used

Exports [time series]

$23 million (2017 est.) | $23 million (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.028 billion (2017 est.)

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

$500 million (2017 est.) | $490.2 million (2016 est.) | $481.1 million (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 25.1% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 7.5% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 20.4% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 94.7% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -69.4% (2017 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.) | industry: 6.8% (2017 est.) | services: 93.1% (2017 est.)

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

$34,200 (2017 est.)

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

2% (2017 est.) | 1.9% (2016 est.) | 1.8% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$300 million NA (2017 est.) | $210 million (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.1% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.1% (2017 est.) | 1.1% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

12,770 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.9% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

183,300 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

117.5 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

45,200 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

126.3 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

20,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

1,227 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 151 sq km | 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 [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

limited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from desalination plants; sewage and mining/industry waste contribute to water pollution, threatening coral reefs

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]

NA

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 46.7% (2011 est.) | arable land: 6.7% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 6.7% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 33.3% (2011 est.) | forest: 24.3% (2011 est.) | other: 29% (2011 est.)

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; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Population distribution [time series]

a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations

Terrain [time series]

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital [time series]

name: Road Town | geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 64 37 W | time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where where ships can lie reasonably safely at anchor sheltered from rip currents, spring tides, or ocean swells

Citizenship [time series]

see United Kingdom

Constitution [time series]

history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: British Virgin Islands | abbreviation: BVI | etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

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 Gus JASPERT (since 22 August 2017) | head of government: Premier Andrew FAHIE (since 26 February 2019) | cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or 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]

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

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]

highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 3 in the British Virgin Islands | judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 | subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral House of Assembly (15 seats; 13 members - 9 in single-seat constituencies and 4 at-large seats directly elected by simple majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and the speaker - chosen from outside the House; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 25 February 2019 (next to be held in 2023) | election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 46.5%, NDP 28.2%, PVIM 17.4%, PU 8%; seats by party - VIP 8, NDP 3, PVIM 1, PU 1; composition - men 12, women 3, percent of women 20%

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)

National symbol(s) [time series]

zenaida dove, white cedar flower; national colors: yellow, green, red, white, blue

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

National Democratic Party or NDP [Myron WALWYN] People's Empowerment Party or PEP [Alvin CHRISTOPHER] Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM [Ronnie SKELTON] Progressives United or PU [Julian FRASER] Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Andrew FAHIE]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

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. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.72% (male 2,949 /female 3,036) | 15-24 years: 12.98% (male 2,223 /female 2,425) | 25-54 years: 49.05% (male 8,230 /female 9,330) | 55-64 years: 11.93% (male 2,073 /female 2,199) | 65 years and over: 9.32% (male 1,611 /female 1,726) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Central America :: British Virgin Islands Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for British Virgin Islands. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

11.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.2% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic groups [time series]

African/black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, white 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

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

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.9 years (2018 est.) | male: 77.5 years | female: 80.4 years

Major urban areas - population [time series]

15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age [time series]

total: 36.7 years (2018 est.) | male: 36.5 years | female: 36.9 years

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

16.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Population [time series]

35,802 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations

Population growth rate [time series]

2.2% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 97.5% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 97.5% of population (2015 est.) | total: 97.5% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 2.5% of population (2015 est.) | total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)

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

total: 14 years | male: NA | female: NA (2015)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.3 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 48.1% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

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

Airports [time series]

4 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 (2019) | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | under 914 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

VP-L (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 25 | by type: general cargo 4, other 21 (2018)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (2015)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Road Harbor

Roadways [time series]

total: 200 km (2007) | paved: 200 km (2007)