World Facts Index
 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 of Anguilla
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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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Coordinates:
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18 15 N, 63 10 W |
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Area:
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total: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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about half the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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61 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 3 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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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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Geography - note:
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the most northerly of the
Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
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Population of Anguilla
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Population:
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14,766 (July 2010 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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33.4 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.98% (2004 est.), 1.57% (2006 est.), 2.332%
(2008 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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14.45 births/1,000 |
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Death rate:
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5.46 deaths/1,000 |
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Net migration rate:
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10.76 migrant(s)/1,000 |
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Infant mortality:
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20.32 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 80.53 years
male: 78.01 years
female: 83.12 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.72 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan |
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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%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional short form: Anguilla |
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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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Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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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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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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) |
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Judicial branch:
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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.
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GDP:
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$108.9 million |
|
GDP growth rate:
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10.2% |
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GDP per capita:
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$8,800 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% |
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Population below poverty line:
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23% (2002) |
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Inflation rate:
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2.3% |
|
Labor force:
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6,049 (2001), |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
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commerce 36%, services 29%, construction
18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%,
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4% (2000 est) |
|
Unemployment:
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6.7% (2001) |
|
Budget:
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revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.) |
|
Industries:
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tourism, boat building, offshore financial
services |
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Agriculture:
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small quantities of tobacco, vegetables;
cattle raising |
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Exports:
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lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete
blocks, rum |
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Export partners:
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UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin |
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Imports:
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fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals,
trucks, textiles |
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Import partners:
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US, Puerto Rico, UK |
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State
Copyright 2004 - 2010 worldfacts.us |