GeographicalArea: Some 36 sizable islands (16 inhabited and 20 are uninhabited), (but about 100 in all), in the Caribbean Sea northeast of Puerto Rico and west of the Leeward Islands, the British Virgin Islands are economically interdependent with the U.S. Virgin Islands to the south. The principal islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke - 59 sq mi (153 sq km)
Terrain and Climate: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly, subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Population: 24,041 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnicity: black 83.4%, white 7%, mixed 5.4%, Indian 3.4%, other 0.8% (1991 census)
Capital: Road Town (on Tortola):
Government: Overseas territory of UK, unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
Major Languages: English
Major Religion: Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)
Life Expectancy: 76.7 Years
Monetary Unit: US Dollar
Exchange Controls and Taxation:
Stamp Tax: There is a Stamp Tax and there are particular taxes that should be investigated before conducting business in BVI.
Main Exports: $25.3 million (2002): rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Compulsory Education: Until the age of 14
GDP: per capita $38,500 (2004)
Annual Growth Rate: 2%
Major Industry: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Communication: Broad-spectrum evaluation: worldwide telephone service
Internet: .vg
International dialing code: 1 + 284
Known as “tax-haven” for qualified individuals
Number of Banks: 13 known International Banks
Head of State:chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David Pearey (since 18 April 2006) head of government: Premier Ralph T. O’Neal (since 23 August 2007) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
Radio: AM 1, FM 4,
Television: 1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Time Zone: The British Virgin Islands Standard Time is GMT (UTC) – 4, has daylight savings time
Airport: 2
British Virgin Islands
Full Name: British Virgin Islands
GeographicalArea: Some 36 sizable islands (16 inhabited and 20 are uninhabited), (but about 100 in all), in the Caribbean Sea northeast of Puerto Rico and west of the Leeward Islands, the British Virgin Islands are economically interdependent with the U.S. Virgin Islands to the south. The principal islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke - 59 sq mi (153 sq km)
Terrain and Climate: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly, subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Population: 24,041 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnicity: black 83.4%, white 7%, mixed 5.4%, Indian 3.4%, other 0.8% (1991 census)
Capital: Road Town (on Tortola):
Government: Overseas territory of UK, unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
Major Languages: English
Major Religion: Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)
Life Expectancy: 76.7 Years
Monetary Unit: US Dollar
Exchange Controls and Taxation:
Stamp Tax: There is a Stamp Tax and there are particular taxes that should be investigated before conducting business in BVI.
Main Exports: $25.3 million (2002): rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Compulsory Education: Until the age of 14
GDP: per capita $38,500 (2004)
Annual Growth Rate: 2%
Major Industry: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Communication: Broad-spectrum evaluation: worldwide telephone service
Internet: .vg
International dialing code: 1 + 284
Known as “tax-haven” for qualified individuals
Number of Banks: 13 known International Banks
Head of State:chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David Pearey (since 18 April 2006) head of government: Premier Ralph T. O’Neal (since 23 August 2007) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
Radio: AM 1, FM 4,
Television: 1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Time Zone: The British Virgin Islands Standard Time is GMT (UTC) – 4, has daylight savings time
