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 km2
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Natural resources: None
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: English (official), Virgin Islands Creole
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)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assemblyelection/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier note: on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE was removed from office by a no-confidence vote in the House of Assembly after his arrest on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY was sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022
Description: legislature name: House of Assemblylegislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 15 (directly elected and appointed)scope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 4/24/2023parties elected and seats per party: VIP (6); NDP (3); PVIM (3); PU (1)expected date of next election: 2027
Information derived by "The World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/"