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:                                                                
                                                                                
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: arable land 20%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures             
33%; forest and woodland 7%; other 33%                                          
                                                                                
Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July                
to October                                                                      
                                                                                
Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico                   
                                                                                
PEOPLE                                                                          
Population: 12,396 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)                         
                                                                                
Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)                                   
                                                                                
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)                                    
                                                                                
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)                        
                                                                                
Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)                       
                                                                                
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 77 years female (1991)                 
                                                                                
Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)                            
                                                                                
Nationality: noun--British Virgin Islander(s); adjective--British               
Virgin Islander                                                                 
                                                                                
Ethnic divisions: black over 90%, remainder of white and Asian                  
origin                                                                          
                                                                                
Religion: 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)                          
                                                                                
Language: English (official)                                                    
                                                                                
Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over can                        
read and write (1970)                                                           
                                                                                
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)                                                       
                                                                                
Organized labor: NA% of labor force                                             
                                                                                
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 12 November 1990 (next to be                     
held by November 1995); results--percent of vote by party NA;                   
seats--(9 total) VIP 6, IPM 1, independent 2                                    
                                                                                
Communists: probably none                                                       
                                                                                
Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC,                     
OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)                                            
                                                                                
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): 1.0% (1987)                                   
                                                                                
Unemployment rate: NEGL%                                                        
                                                                                
Budget: revenues $32.8 million; expenditures $32.4 million,                     
including capital expenditures of $6.3 million (FY90)                           
                                                                                
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: 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                                   
                                                                                
