The 1999 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Mauritius and Seychelles

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      @British Virgin Islands———————————

      Geography

      Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North

       Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

      Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W

      Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

      Area:

       total: 150 sq km

       land: 150 sq km

       water: 0 sq km

       note: includes the island of Anegada

      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: 7%

       permanent pastures: 33%

       forests and woodland: 7%

       other: 33% (1993 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 catchment)

      Environment—international agreements:

       party to: NA

       signed, but not ratified: NA

      Geography—note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and

       Puerto Rico

      People

      Population: 19,156 (July 1999 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 21% (male 2,012; female 1,965)

       15–64 years: 74% (male 7,300; female 6,896)

       65 years and over: 5% (male 539; female 444) (1999 est.)

      Population growth rate: 2.37% (1999 est.)

      Birth rate: 15.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Death rate: 4.65 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Net migration rate: 12.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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: 1.21 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 22.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.13 years male: 74.37 years female: 75.92 years (1999 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

      Ethnic groups: 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:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)

       male: NA%

       female: NA%

      Government

      Country name:

       conventional long form: none

       conventional short form: British Virgin Islands

       abbreviation: BVI

      Data code: VI

      Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

      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 David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995)

       head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May

       1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity

       STOUTT)

       cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of

       the Legislative Council

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

       the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the

       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

       five-year terms)

       elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February

       2000)

       election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VIP 6,

       CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3

      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: United Party or UP [Conrad

      International organization participation: Caricom (associate),

       CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate),

       UNESCO (associate)

      Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of

       the UK)

      Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory

       of the UK)

      Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer