Anguilla

English settlers from Saint Kitts first colonized Anguilla in 1650. Great Britain administered the island until the early 19th century, when -- against the wishes of the inhabitants -- Anguilla was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, when Anguilla became a separate British dependency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage on the island, particularly to communications and residential and business infrastructure.

18 15 N, 63 10 W

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

about one-half the size of Washington, D.C.

inadequate potable water

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

61 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

Forest: 61.1% (2022 est.)

Other: 38.9% (2022 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

salt, fish, lobster

the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Central America and the Caribbean

0 sq km (2020)

most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparse in the northeast

Highest point: Crocus Hill 73 m

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Total : 91 sq km

Land: 91 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

0-14 years: 20.8% (male 2,056/female 1,992)

15-64 years: 67.5% (male 5,958/female 7,147)

65 years and over: 11.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,093/female 1,170)

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Anguillan(s)

Adjective: Anguillan

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Total: 97.5% of population

1,000 THE VALLEY (capital) (2018)

African/Black 85.3%, Hispanic 4.9%, mixed 3.8%, White 3.2%, East Indian/Indian 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

Note: Data represent population by ethnic origin

Protestant 73.2% (includes Anglican 22.7%, Methodist 19.4%, Pentecostal 10.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Baptist 7.1%, Church of God 4.9%, Presbyterian 0.2%, Brethren 0.1%), Roman Catholic 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 10.9%, other 3.2%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4.5% (2011 est.)

English (official)

1.51 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Total dependency ratio: 48.2 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 30.9 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 17.3 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 5.8 (2024 est.)

0.85 (2024 est.)

10.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 37.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 34.8 years

Female: 39 years

1.72 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 19,416 (2024 est.)

Male: 9,107

Female: 10,309

Total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total population: 82.6 years (2024 est.)

Male: 80 years

Female: 85.3 years

2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

10.3% national budget (2024 est.)

1.74% (2024 est.)

Embassy: None (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000

Name: The Valley

Geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W

Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: Name may derive from the capital's location among several hills

History: Several previous; latest 1 April 1982

Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Julia CROUCH (since 11 September 2023)

Head of government: Premier Cora RICHARDSON-HODGE (since 27 February 2025)

Cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected 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 

Description: Blue, with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms shows three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background, with a turquoise-blue field below

Meaning: The white on the coat of arms stands for peace; the blue base for the sea, faith, youth, and hope; and the three dolphins for endurance, unity, and strength

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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: Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court

common law based on the English model

Legislature name: House of Assembly

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 11 (7 directly elected, 2 appointed, 2 ex-officio members)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 6/29/2020

Parties elected and seats per party: APM (7); AUF (4)

Percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

Anguilla Progressive Movement or APM; (formerly Anguilla United Movement or AUM)
Anguilla United Front or AUF

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Conventional long form: None

Conventional short form: Anguilla

Etymology: In 1493, Christopher COLUMBUS named the island Anguilla, meaning "eel" in Spanish, because of the island's elongated shape

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Title: "God Bless Anguilla"

Lyrics/music: Alex RICHARDSON

History: Local anthem, adopted 1981
_____

Title: "God Save the King"

Lyrics/music: Unknown

History: Official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

dolphin

see United Kingdom

packaged medicine, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, vaccines, cars (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Revenues: $81.925 million (2017 est.)

Expenditures: $72.352 million (2017 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

poultry, copper ore, natural gas, refined petroleum, fish (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
2.7 (2024 est.)
2.7 (2023 est.)
2.7 (2022 est.)
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinery

$452.73 million (2024 est.)

Note: Data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Chile 50%, USA 27%, Botswana 15%, Japan 1%, Dominican Republic 1% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Chile 60%, Netherlands 8%, Brazil 5%, Hungary 4%, USA 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$362.499 million (2024 est.)
$345.238 million (2023 est.)
$336.924 million (2022 est.)

Note: Data in 2015 dollars

3% (2022 est.)
1.8% (2021 est.)
-0.5% (2020 est.)

Note: Annual % change based on consumer prices

$31,000 (2024 est.)
$28,900 (2023 est.)
$27,400 (2022 est.)

Note: Data in 2015 dollars

$7.9 million (2017 est.)
$3.9 million (2016 est.)

Note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Percent of population: 81.6% (2021 est.)

.ai

1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned (2024)

Total subscriptions: 26,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 170 (2021 est.)

Total: 5,000 (2018 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2018 est.)

Total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2021 est.)

VP-A

1 (2025)

Total: 2 (2023)

By type: Other 2

defense is the responsibility of the UK

overseas territory of the UK

the Anguillan coat of arms features three interlocking dolphins jumping out of seawater; they represent endurance, unity, and strength, and their circular motion stands for continuity; the white background symbolizes peace and tranquility, and the turquoise-blue base represents the sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope