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Central America and Caribbean :: Anguilla (overseas territory of the UK)

- ## Introduction :: ANGUILLA

- Background:
  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.

- ## Geography :: ANGUILLA

- Location:
  Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
  Geographic coordinates:
  18 15 N, 63 10 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 91 sq km
  land: 91 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 227
  Area - comparative:
  about one-half the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  61 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 3 nm
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
  Terrain:
  flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
  Natural resources:
  salt, fish, lobster
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 0%
  arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
  forest: 61.1%
  other: 38.9% (mostly rock with some commercial salt ponds) (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
  Environment - current issues:
  supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
  Geography - note:
  the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

- ## People and Society :: ANGUILLA

- Nationality:
  noun: Anguillan(s)
  adjective: Anguillan
  Ethnic groups:
  black 90.1%, mixed 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 est.)
  Languages:
  English (official)
  Religions:
  Protestant 83.3% (includes Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, Pentecostal 7.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 7.6%, Church of God 7.6%, Baptist 7.3%, Presbytarian .2%), Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.5%, other 5.1%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4% (2001 est.)
  Population:
  16,418 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 221
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22.84% (male 1,917/female 1,833)
  15-24 years: 14.06% (male 1,150/female 1,159)
  25-54 years: 44.73% (male 3,312/female 4,032)
  55-64 years: 9.88% (male 783/female 839)
  65 years and over: 8.48% (male 690/female 703) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 34.1 years
  male: 32.4 years
  female: 35.7 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.03% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Birth rate:
  12.67 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Death rate:
  4.57 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Net migration rate:
  12.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 100% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  THE VALLEY (capital) 1,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 3.78 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 2.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 81.31 years
  male: 78.71 years
  female: 83.98 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Total fertility rate:
  1.75 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  43%
  note: percent of women aged 15-45 (2003)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 94.6% of population
  total: 94.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 5.4% of population
  total: 5.4% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97.9% of population
  total: 97.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.1% of population
  total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Education expenditures:
  2.8% of GDP (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 146

- ## Government :: ANGUILLA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Anguilla
  note: the name Anguilla means "eel" in various Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French) and likely derives from the island's lengthy shape
  Dependency status:
  overseas territory of the UK
  Government type:
  NA
  Capital:
  name: The Valley
  geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W
  time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Independence:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  National holiday:
  Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest 1 April 1982; amended 1990 (2013)
  Legal system:
  common law based on the English model
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Christina SCOTT (since 23 July 2013)
  head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 February 2010)
  cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected members of the House of Assembly
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; seven members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, two appointed by the governor, and two ex officio members - the attorney general and deputy governor; members serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held on 22 April 2015 (next to be held in 2015)
  election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 54.4%, AUM 38.3%, DOVE 1.4%, independent 5.9%; seats by party - AUF 6, independent 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Anguilla; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; High Court judges reside in 7 member states, though none resides on Anguilla
  judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; 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
  Political parties and leaders:
  Anguilla United Front or AUF [Victor BANKS] (an alliance of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA)
  Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Dr. Ellis WEBSTER]
  Democracy, Opportunity, Vision, and Empowerment Party or DOVE [Sutcliffe HODGE]
  International organization participation:
  Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Flag description:
  blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with a turquoise-blue field below; the white in the background represents peace; the blue base symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope; the three dolphins stand for endurance, unity, and strength
  National symbol(s):
  dolphin
  National anthem:
  name: "God Bless Anguilla"
  lyrics/music: Alex RICHARDSON
  note: local anthem adopted 1981; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

- ## Economy :: ANGUILLA

- Economy - overview:
  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 has spurred the growth of the construction sector contributing 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.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $175.4 million (2009 est.)
  $191.7 million (2008 est.)
  $108.9 million (2004 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 222
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $175.4 million (2009 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -8.5% (2009 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 219
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $12,200 (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 76.8%
  government consumption: 19.2%
  investment in fixed capital: 20.9%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 41.4%
  imports of goods and services: -58.3%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2.6%
  industry: 24.4%
  services: 73% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
  Industries:
  tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Labor force:
  6,049 (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 220
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 4%
  manufacturing: 3%
  construction: 18%
  transportation and utilities: 10%
  commerce: 36%
  services: 29% (2000 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  8% (2002)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Population below poverty line:
  23% (2002 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $64.22 million
  expenditures: $65.11 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  36.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Public debt:
  19.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  20.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.1% (2014 est.)
  3.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Central bank discount rate:
  6.5% (31 December 2010)
  6.5% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  8.9% (31 December 2014 est.)
  9.08% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Stock of narrow money:
  $16.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $15.95 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Stock of broad money:
  $393.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $381.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $474.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $460.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Current account balance:
  -$51.8 million (2014 est.)
  -$47.9 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Exports:
  $11.7 million (2014 est.)
  $4.3 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Exports - commodities:
  lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
  Imports:
  $138.3 million (2014 est.)
  $127.7 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Imports - commodities:
  fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
  Debt - external:
  $8.8 million (1998)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
  2.7 (2014 est.)
  2.7 (2013 est.)
  2.7 (2012 est.)
  2.7 (2011 est.)
  2.7 (2010 est.)

- ## Communications :: ANGUILLA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 5,900
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 26,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern internal telephone system
  domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 170 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .ai
  Internet users:
  total: 3,700
  percent of population: 26% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 208

- ## Transportation :: ANGUILLA

- Airports:
  2 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 175 km
  paved: 82 km
  unpaved: 93 km (2004)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Blowing Point, Road Bay

- ## Military :: ANGUILLA

- Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 3,641 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 3,009
  females age 16-49: 3,397 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 111
  female: 113 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

- ## Transnational Issues :: ANGUILLA

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

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