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Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west, and the US dollar is the legal currency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.
Area: 151 sq km km2
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Groups: African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages:
Religions: Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)
Capital: Road Town
Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024)
Head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)
Description: House of Assembly - unicameral
British Caribbean island territorial economy; strong tourism and services industries; vulnerable to hurricanes; navigating public debt insolvency since 2008 Crisis; considered a tax haven; high electrification costs; major rum exporter
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center
GDP by sector: Agriculture: n/a, Industry: n/a, Services: n/a
Export partners: Malta 33%, Guyana 22%, Greece 11%, Germany 7%, Indonesia 4% (2023)
Export commodities: ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, molasses, precious stones (2023)
Import partners: USA 34%, Italy 10%, France 9%, China 8%, Luxembourg 5% (2023)
Import commodities: ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, railway cargo containers, jewelry (2023)
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.