British Virgin Islands

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.

18 30 N, 64 30 W

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C.

limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution from sewage and mining/industry waste; coral reef preservation

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

80 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 46.7% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 6.7% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 33.3% (2023 est.)

Forest: 66.5% (2023 est.)

Other: 0% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

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

Central America and the Caribbean

NA

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

Highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

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)

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.)

Noun: British Virgin Islander(s)

Adjective: British Virgin Islander

Total: 11 years (2022 est.)

Male: 11 years (2022 est.)

Female: 11 years (2022 est.)

Urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)

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.)

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.)

English (official), Virgin Islands Creole

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.)

0.67 (2024 est.)

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

Total: 38.5 years (2024 est.)

Male: 38.1 years

Female: 38.9 years

1.38 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 40,102 (2024 est.)

Male: 19,042

Female: 21,060

Total: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

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

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

Total population: 80.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 78.6 years

Female: 81.7 years

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

13.6% national budget (2025 est.)

1.82% (2024 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 21,100 tons (2024 est.)

188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

66.998 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Embassy: None (overseas territory of the UK)

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

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

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

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

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: Magistrates' Courts

English common law

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

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

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

National Democratic Party or NDP
Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM
Progressives United or PU
Virgin Islands Party or VIP

18 years of age; universal

Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

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)

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Title: "God Save the King"

Lyrics/music: Unknown

History: Official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

zenaida dove, white cedar flower

see United Kingdom

yellow, green, red, white, blue

ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, molasses, precious stones (2023)

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Revenues: $400 million (2017 est.)

Expenditures: $400 million (2017 est.)

ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, railway cargo containers, jewelry (2023)

the US dollar is used

tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center

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

$1.598 billion (2024 est.)

Note: Data in current dollars at official exchange rate

USA 34%, Italy 10%, France 9%, China 8%, Luxembourg 5% (2023)

Malta 33%, Guyana 22%, Greece 11%, Germany 7%, Indonesia 4% (2023)

$1.634 billion (2024 est.)
$1.579 billion (2023 est.)
$1.537 billion (2022 est.)

Note: Data in 2015 dollars

8.5% (2022 est.)
2.8% (2021 est.)
1.4% (2020 est.)

Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$40,500 (2024 est.)
$38,600 (2023 est.)
$38,400 (2022 est.)

Note: Data in 2015 dollars

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Imports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)

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.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 163.82 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 10.18 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 78% (2017 est.)

.vg

1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half-dozen private radio stations

Total subscriptions: 38,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2021 est.)

Total: 7,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions: 23,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)

VP-L

3 (2025)

Total: 29 (2023)

By type: General cargo 3, other 26

2 (2025)

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Refugees: 41 (2024 est.)

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Total ports: 1 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 1

Small: 0

Very small: 0

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Road Harbor