Access to THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1993 provided courtesy of The Libraries of the University of Missouri-St. Louis Match 38 DB Rec# - 55,785 Dataset-WOFACT Source :CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Source key :CI Program :WORLD FACTBOOK Program key :CI WOFACT Update sched. :Annually ID number :CI WOFACT 037 Title :BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Data type :TEXT End year :1994 Date of record:02/16/1994 Keywords 3 : | BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Text : BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS GEOGRAPHY Location: in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 150 km2 land area: 150 km2 comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes the island of Anegada Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 80 km exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 33% forest and woodland: 7% other: 33% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico PEOPLE Population: 12,707 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.22% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 20.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 19.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.62 years male: 70.77 years female: 74.6 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander Ethnic divisions: black 90%, white, Asian Religions: 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) Languages: English (official) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% Labor force: 4,911 (1980) by occupation: NA GOVERNMENT Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands Abbreviation: BVI Digraph: VI 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 National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT; Independent Progressive Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Legislative Council: 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 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 Peter Alfred PENFOLD (since NA 1991) Head of Government: Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986) Member of: CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of 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, 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. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $133 million (1991) National product real growth rate: 2% (1991) National product per capita: $10,600 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1990 est.) Budget: revenues $51 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991) Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988) 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: 10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced, 3,510 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center Agriculture: livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables Economic 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: 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 Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone service; submarine cable communication links to Bermuda; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This section of THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1993 produced by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was derived from the US Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Division's NATIONAL TRADE DATA BANK CD-ROM, July, 1994, SuDoc No. C 1.88:994/7/v.1-2 / R. Muns, UM-St. Louis Libraries Local Filename: WF940036.TXT