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Virgin Islands - British

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Geography of Virgin Islands - British

Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 150 sq km land area: 150 sq km comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes the island of Anegada Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 80 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 33% forest and woodland: 7% other: 33% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment) natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) international agreements: NA Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Government of Virgin Islands - British

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History of Virgin Islands - British

The Lonely Planet offers a brief history of the British Virgin Islands.

People of Virgin Islands - British

Population: 22,187 (July 2004 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.5% (male 2,402; female 2,361) 15-64 years: 73.5% (male 8,395; female 7,911) 65 years and over: 5% (male 594; female 524) (2004 est.) Median age: total: 30.9 years male: 31.1 years female: 30.7 years (2004 est.) Population growth rate: 2.06% (2004 est.) Birth rate: 14.96 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) Death rate: 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) Net migration rate: 10.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2004 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 18.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.27 years male: 75.24 years female: 77.36 years (2004 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2004 est.) Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander Ethnic groups: black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991) Languages: English (official) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA female: NA