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Background:
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Colonized by English settlers
from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until
the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the
inhabitants - 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, with Anguilla becoming a
separate British dependency. |
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Location:
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Caribbean, islands between
the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico |
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 15 N, 63 10 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the
Caribbean |
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Area - comparative:
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about half the size of
Washington, DC |
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Coastline:
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61 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical; moderated by
northeast trade winds |
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Terrain:
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flat and low-lying island of
coral and limestone |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m |
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Natural resources:
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salt, fish, lobster
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
commercial salt ponds) (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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frequent hurricanes and other
tropical storms (July to October) |
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Environment - current issues:
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supplies of potable water
sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution
system |
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Population:
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13,008 (July 2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.98% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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14.45 births/1,000 population
(2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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5.46 deaths/1,000 population
(2004 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 76.9
years
male: 73.99 years
female: 79.91 years (2004 est.) |
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Ethnic groups:
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black (predominant), mulatto,
white |
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Religions:
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Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12% |
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Languages:
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English (official)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 12 and
over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.) |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK
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Capital:
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The Valley
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National holiday:
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Anguilla Day, 30 May
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Constitution:
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Anguilla Constitutional Order
1 April 1982; amended 1990 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Economy - overview:
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Anguilla has few natural
resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore
banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity
in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction
sector, has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put
substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is
small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will
depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income
growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather
conditions. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity -
$104 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.8% (2001 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity -
$8,600 (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.3% |
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Labor force:
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6,049 (2001)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%,
transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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6.7% (2001)
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Budget:
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revenues: $22.8
million
expenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2000 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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small quantities of tobacco,
vegetables; cattle raising |
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Industries:
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tourism, boat building,
offshore financial services |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.1% (1997 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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lobster, fish, livestock,
salt, concrete blocks, rum |
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
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Exchange rates:
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East Caribbean dollars per US
dollar - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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6,200 (2002)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1,800 (2002)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; microwave radio relay to island
of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Blowing Point, Road Bay
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Illicit drugs:
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transshipment point for South
American narcotics destined for the US and Europe |
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