Background Notes - Anguilla

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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.
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
61 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
salt, fish, lobster
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
People Anguilla Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,677 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 31.6 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 31.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.375% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.97 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.34 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
5.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.029 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.058 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.033 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 19.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 77.46 years
male: 74.53 years
female: 80.49 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.72 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 Census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
Government Anguilla Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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: none; 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:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, AUM 19.4%, ANSA 19.2%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA 2, AUM 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The 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 Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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 blue wavy water below
Economy Anguilla Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8% (2002)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
23% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.3% (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$42.87 million (2003 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$14.56 million (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$129.9 million (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$9 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.8 million (1998)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
Communications Anguilla Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,800 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ai
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
319 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,000 (2002)
Transportation Anguilla Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 175 km
paved: 82 km
unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Blowing Point, Road Bay
Military Anguilla Top of Page
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 3,614 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 2,986 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 120 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
61 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
salt, fish, lobster
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
People Anguilla Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,677 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 31.6 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 31.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.375% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.97 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.34 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
5.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.029 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.058 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.033 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 19.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 77.46 years
male: 74.53 years
female: 80.49 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.72 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 Census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
Government Anguilla Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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: none; 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:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, AUM 19.4%, ANSA 19.2%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA 2, AUM 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The 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 Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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 blue wavy water below
Economy Anguilla Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8% (2002)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
23% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.3% (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$42.87 million (2003 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$14.56 million (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$129.9 million (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$9 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.8 million (1998)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
Communications Anguilla Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,800 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ai
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
319 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,000 (2002)
Transportation Anguilla Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 175 km
paved: 82 km
unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Blowing Point, Road Bay
Military Anguilla Top of Page
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 3,614 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 2,986 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 120 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe