Country:  British Virgin Islands
(dependent territory of the UK)
- Geography
Total area: 150 km2; land area: 150 km2
 
Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
 
Coastline: 80 km
 
Maritime claims:
 
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
 
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
 
Territorial sea: 3 nm
 
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
 
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
 
Natural resources: negligible
 
Land use: 20% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 33% meadows and pastures;
7% forest and woodland; 33% other
 
Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July
to October
 
Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
 
- People
Population: 12,258 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)
 
Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1990)
 
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
 
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
 
Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
 
Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 77 years female (1990)
 
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1990)
 
Nationality: noun--British Virgin Islander(s); adjective--British
Virgin Islander
 
Ethnic divisions: over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin
 
Religion: majority Methodist; others include Anglican, Church of God,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic
 
Language: English (official)
 
Literacy: 98%
 
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
 
Organized labor: NA
 
- Government
Long-form name: none
 
Type: dependent territory of the UK
 
Capital: Road Town
 
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
 
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
 
Constitution: 1 June 1977
 
Legal system: English law
 
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
 
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
Executive Council (cabinet)
 
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
 
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
 
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986);
 
Head of Government--Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)
 
Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro;
Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity Stoutt; Independent
People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. Romney
 
Suffrage: universal at age 18
 
Elections:
Legislative Council--last held 30 September 1986 (next to be
held by September 1991); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) UP 2, VIP 5, IPM 2
 
Communists: probably none
 
Member of: Commonwealth
 
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
 
Flag: 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)
 
- Economy
Overview: The economy 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.
 
GDP: $106.7 million, per capita $8,900; real growth rate 2.5% (1987)
 
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (January 1987)
 
Unemployment rate: NA%
 
Budget: revenues $26.2 million; expenditures $25.4 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
 
Exports: $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1985); commodities--rum, fresh fish,
gravel, sand, fruits, animals; partners--Virgin Islands (US),
Puerto Rico, US
 
Imports: $72.0 million (c.i.f., 1985); commodities--building
materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery; partners--Virgin Islands
(US), Puerto Rico, US
 
External debt: $4.5 million (1985)
 
Industrial production: growth rate - 4.0% (1985)
 
Electricity: 13,500 kW capacity; 59 million kWh produced,
4,870 kWh per capita (1989)
 
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,
offshore financial center
 
Agriculture: livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
 
Aid: NA
 
Currency: US currency is used
 
Exchange rates: US currency is used
 
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
 
- Communications
Highways: 106 km motorable roads (1983)
 
Ports: Road Town
 
Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways
less than 1,220 m
 
Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone
service; submarine cable communication links to Bermuda; stations--1 AM,
no FM, 1 TV
 
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK