British Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands

AmericasCaribbeanVGB

Capital: Road Town
Area: 151 km²
Currency: United States dollar ($)
Languages: English

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British Virgin Islands

Americas · 2024 est. · 40.1K people

Stationary (balanced)

0–14 years16.6%

15–64 years71.3%

65+ years12.1%

Background: First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west, and the US dollar is the legal currency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.

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: 151 sq km
land: 151 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation: highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 33.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 66.5% (2023 est.)
other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Population: total: 40,102 (2024 est.)
male: 19,042
female: 21,060
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official), Virgin Islands Creole
Religions: Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.6% (male 3,298/female 3,351)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 13,455/female 15,152)
65 years and over: 12.1% (2024 est.) (male 2,289/female 2,557)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 40.2 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 23.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 16.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.9 (2024 est.)
Median age: total: 38.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 38.1 years
female: 38.9 years
Population growth rate: 1.78% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Urbanization: urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 13 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.6 years
female: 81.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.68 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.6% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years (2022 est.)
male: 11 years (2022 est.)
female: 11 years (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution from sewage and mining/industry waste; coral reef preservation
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 33.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 66.5% (2023 est.)
other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 21,100 tons (2024 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI
etymology:
the islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time was shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Capital: name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where ships can still lie at anchor
Legal system: English common law
Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)
amendment process: initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024)
head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier
note: on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE was removed from office by a no-confidence vote in the House of Assembly after his arrest on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY was sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022
Legislative branch: legislature name: House of Assembly
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 15 (directly elected and appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 4/24/2023
parties elected and seats per party: VIP (6); NDP (3); PVIM (3); PU (1)
expected date of next election: 2027
Judicial branch: highest court(s):
the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts
judge selection and term of office:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts
Political parties: National Democratic Party or NDP
Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM
Progressives United or PU
Virgin Islands Party or VIP
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation: ACS (associate), Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman between two columns of six oil lamps, above a scroll with the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

meaning: Christopher COLUMBUS named the islands in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her virgin followers, and the figure holding a lamp represents the saint, with the other lamps symbolizing her followers
National symbol(s): zenaida dove, white cedar flower
National color(s): yellow, green, red, white, blue
National anthem(s): title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

Economic overview: British Caribbean island territorial economy; strong tourism and services industries; vulnerable to hurricanes; navigating public debt insolvency since 2008 Crisis; considered a tax haven; high electrification costs; major rum exporter
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.634 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.579 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.537 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2015 dollars
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $40,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $38,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $38,400 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2015 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.598 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.8% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 1.4% (2020 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Agricultural products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center
Budget: revenues: $400 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: $400 million (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: Malta 33%, Guyana 22%, Greece 11%, Germany 7%, Indonesia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, molasses, precious stones (2023)
Imports - partners: USA 34%, Italy 10%, France 9%, China 8%, Luxembourg 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, railway cargo containers, jewelry (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 163.82 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 10.18 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 97.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: imports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 66.998 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 23,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,595 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half-dozen private radio stations
Internet country code: .vg
Internet users: percent of population: 78% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 7,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-L
Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 29 (2023)
by type: general cargo 3, other 26
Ports: total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 0
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Road Harbor

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 41 (2024 est.)