Highways: total: NA km paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved : NA km
Ports and harbors: Diego Garcia
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the island of Diego Garcia is claimed by Mauritius ______________________________________________________________________
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)
@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
@British Virgin Islands:People
Population: 13,368 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0–14 years: NA 15–64 years : NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.32% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 20.13 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.03 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: −0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15–64 years : NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 18.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.83 years male: 70.99 years female: 74.8 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1997 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%
@British Virgin Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Data code: VI
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Road Town
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent 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 of the UK (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 queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; 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, 1 member from each of 9 electoral districts, 4 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, one judge of the
Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High
Court
Political parties and leaders: United Party or UP [Conrad MADURO];
Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]; Concerned Citizens
Movement or CCM [E. Walwyln BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement or
IPM [Omar HODGE and Allen O'NEAL]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent 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 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
Economy - overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British