Introduction Anguilla
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 Anguilla
Area total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about half the size of Washington, DC
Climate tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Coastline 61 km
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
Environment - current issues supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Geographic coordinates 18 15 N, 63 10 W
Geography - note the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
Irrigated land NA
Land boundaries 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources salt, fish, lobster
Terrain flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
People Anguilla
Age structure 0-14 years: 24.8% (male 1,795/female 1,706)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 4,569/female 4,970)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 510/female 558) (2008 est.)
Birth rate 13.11 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate 4.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures 4% of GDP (2005)
Ethnic groups black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS NA
Infant mortality rate total: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages English (official)
Life expectancy at birth total population: 80.53 years
male: 78.01 years
female: 83.12 years (2008 est.)
Literacy definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
Median age total: 32.3 years
male: 31.3 years
female: 33.4 years (2008 est.)
Nationality noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Net migration rate 14.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population 14,108 (July 2008 est.)
Population below poverty line 23% (2002)
Population growth rate 2.332% (2008 est.)
Religions 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)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate 1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Transportation Anguilla
Airports 3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Ports and terminals Blowing Point, Road Bay
Roadways total: 175 km
paved: 82 km
unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Government Anguilla
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK)
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)
Constitution Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
Country name conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK)
Executive branch 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
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 blue wavy water below
Government type NA
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU
Judicial branch High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Legal system based on English common law
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 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
National holiday Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Political parties and leaders 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]; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Economy Anguilla
Budget revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million (2000 est.)
Central bank discount rate 6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate 9.76% (31 December 2007)
Currency (code) East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Current account balance -$42.87 million (2003 est.)
Debt - external $8.8 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient $9 million (2004 est.)
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.
Electricity - production NA kWh
Exchange rates East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Exports $13 million (2006)
Exports - commodities lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP) $8,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 10.2% (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) $108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity) $108.9 million (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Imports $143 million (2006)
Imports - commodities fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Industries tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force 6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)
Stock of domestic credit $447.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of money $23.57 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money $470.1 million (31 December 2007)
Unemployment rate 8% (2002)
Communications Anguilla
Internet country code .ai
Internet hosts 205 (2008)
Internet users 3,000 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Telephone system general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use 6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,800 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997)
Military Anguilla
Manpower available for military service males age 16-49: 3,538 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service males age 16-49: 2,929 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male: 103
female: 103 (2008 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Anguilla
Disputes - international none
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Map: Anguilla