British Virgin Islands

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 7,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 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.)

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.)

Agricultural products

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Budget

revenues: $400 million (2017 est.) expenditures: $400 million (2017 est.)

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

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.598 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.5% (2022 est.) 2.8% (2021 est.) 1.4% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.634 billion (2024 est.) $1.579 billion (2023 est.) $1.537 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

Real GDP per capita

$40,500 (2024 est.) $38,600 (2023 est.) $38,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

Coal

imports: 20 metric tons (2023 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 access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 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.)

Energy consumption per capita

66.998 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

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

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Environmental issues

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

Land use

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.)

Urbanization

urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

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

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.

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Coastline

80 km

Elevation

highest point: Mount Sage 521 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

18 30 N, 64 30 W

Geography - note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

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.)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

Natural resources

NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

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

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

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

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

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

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)

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

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

Government type

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

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

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

Legal system

English common law

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

National anthem(s)

title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

National color(s)

yellow, green, red, white, blue

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

National symbol(s)

zenaida dove, white cedar flower

Political parties

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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)

Birth rate

10.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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.)

Drinking water source

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.6% national budget (2025 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.68 (2025 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

Languages

English (official), Virgin Islands Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.1 years (2024 est.) male: 78.6 years female: 81.7 years

Major urban areas - population

15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age

total: 38.8 years (2025 est.) male: 38.1 years female: 38.9 years

Nationality

noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

12.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population

total: 40,102 (2024 est.) male: 19,042 female: 21,060

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

Population growth rate

1.78% (2025 est.)

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years (2022 est.) male: 11 years (2022 est.) female: 11 years (2022 est.)

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 41 (2024 est.)

Airports

3 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-L

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