The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      Area - comparative:

       about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

      Land boundaries:

       0 km

      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

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

       highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

      Natural resources:

       NEGL

      Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (1998 est.)

      Irrigated land:

       NA sq km

      Natural hazards:

       hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

      Environment - current issues: 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)

      Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

      People British Virgin Islands

      Population:

       21,730 (July 2003 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 21.9% (male 2,401; female 2,358)

       15–64 years: 73.1% (male 8,181; female 7,709)

       65 years and over: 5% (male 578; female 503) (2003 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 30.7 years

       male: 31 years

       female: 30.4 years (2002)

      Population growth rate:

       2.1% (2003 est.)

      Birth rate:

       15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Death rate:

       4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       10.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 18.8 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

       male: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 76.06 years

       male: 75.07 years

       female: 77.1 years (2003 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       1.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       NA%

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       NA

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

      Ethnic groups:

       black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed

      Religions:

       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%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)

      Languages:

       English (official)

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)

       male: NA%

       female: NA%

      Government British Virgin Islands

      Country name:

       conventional long form: none

       conventional short form: British Virgin Islands

       abbreviation: BVI

      Dependency status:

       overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

      Government type:

       NA

      Capital:

       Road Town

      Administrative divisions:

       none (overseas territory of the UK)

      Independence:

       none (overseas territory of the UK)

      National holiday:

       Territory Day, 1 July

      Constitution:

       1 June 1977

      Legal system:

       English law

      Suffrage:

       18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),

       represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)

       elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by

       the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the

       majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually

       appointed chief minister by the governor

       head of government: Chief Minister Orlando SMITH (since 17 June 2003)

       cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of

       the Legislative Council

      Legislative branch:

       unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by

       direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts,

       four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)

       elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)

       election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -

       NDP 8, VIP 5

      Judicial branch:

       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

      Political parties and leaders:

       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]