Facts about Anguilla

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AnguillaColonized 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 of Anguilla

Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Coordinates:
18 15 N, 63 10 W
Area:
total: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km
Area comparative:
about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
61 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 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
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

Population of Anguilla

Population:
14,766 (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 1,546/female 1,502)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 4,979/female 4,705)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 423/female 522)
Median age:
33.4 years
Growth rate:
1.98% (2004 est.), 1.57% (2006 est.), 2.332% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
14.45 births/1,000
Death rate:
5.46 deaths/1,000
Net migration rate:
10.76 migrant(s)/1,000
Infant mortality:
20.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.53 years
male: 78.01 years
female: 83.12 years
Total fertility rate:
1.72 children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups:
black (predominant), mulatto, white
Religions:
Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%

Government

Country name:
conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Capital:
The Valley
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Anguilla Day, 30 May
Constitution:
Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Andrew N. GEORGE (since 10 July 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March 2000)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms)
Judicial branch:
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)

Economy

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.

GDP:
$108.9 million
GDP growth rate:
10.2%
GDP per capita:
$8,800
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78%
Population below poverty line:
23% (2002)
Inflation rate:
2.3%
Labor force:
6,049 (2001), 
Labor force - by occupation:
commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4% (2000 est)
Unemployment:
6.7% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Agriculture:
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Exports:
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Export partners:
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin 
Imports:
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Import partners:
US, Puerto Rico, UK
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State

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