mirror of
https://github.com/opsxcq/mirror-textfiles.com.git
synced 2025-09-01 01:42:08 +02:00
189 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
189 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
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
|
||
|
||
|