Anguilla

Anguilla

Introduction

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

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
country comparison to the world: 226 land:91 sq km
water:0 sq km

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

arable land: 0%
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)

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

Nationality

noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective:Anguillan

Ethnic groups

black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)

Languages

English (official)

Religions

Protestant 83.1% (Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%), Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)

Population

15,094 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 1,861/female 1,764)
15-64 years:68.1% (male 4,855/female 5,427)
65 years and over:7.9% (male 577/female 610) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 33.3 years
male:31.9 years
female:34.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.173% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Birth rate

12.92 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Death rate

4.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200

Net migration rate

13.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

THE VALLEY (capital) 2,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.031 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.93 male(s)/female
total population:0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 210 male:3.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.87 years
country comparison to the world: 19 male:78.32 years
female:83.51 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 60% of population
total: 60% of population
unimproved:
urban: 40% of population
total: 40% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 99% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 119

Literacy

definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population:95%
male:95%
female:95% (1984 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years
male:11 years
female:11 years (2008)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Anguilla

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

Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982

amended 1990

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 Alistair HARRISON (since 21 April 2009)
head of government:Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 February 2010)
cabinet:Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary

governor appointed by the monarch

following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats

7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed

members serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 15 February 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – AUM 4, AUF 2, APP 1

Judicial branch

High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)

Political parties and leaders

Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Brent DAVIS]

Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]

Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS] (a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA)

Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, 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

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.)
country comparison to the world: 216 $191.7 million (2008 est.)
$108.9 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$175.4 million (2009 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

-8.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$12,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.1%
industry:26.6%
services:71.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force

6,049 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 218

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: 89

Population below poverty line

23% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

41.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Budget

revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures:$22.5 million (2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26 -0.7% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.6% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115 9.273% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$16.42 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190 $19.03 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$439.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177 $430.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$500.6 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165 $489 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Agriculture – products

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables

cattle raising

Industries

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

NA kWh

Current account balance

-$160.6 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 -$102.4 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$11.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212 $26.23 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

Imports

$175 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205 $153.4 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Debt – external

$8.8 million (1998)
country comparison to the world: 196

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2010)
2.7 (2009)
2.7 (2005)
2.7 (2004)
2.7 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

3 (2010)
country comparison to the world:192

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 2
under 914 m:2 (2010)

Roadways

total: 175 km
country comparison to the world: 209 paved:82 km
unpaved:93 km (2004)

Ports and terminals

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Military

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

Disputes – international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe