outer half of the flag
:British Indian Ocean Territory Economy
Overview:
All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia,
where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and
various services needed to support the military installations are done by
military and contract employees from the UK and the US. There are no
industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity:
provided by the US military
:British Indian Ocean Territory Communications
Highways:
short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
Ports:
Diego Garcia
Airports:
1 with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego Garcia
Telecommunications:
minimal facilities; broadcast stations (operated by US Navy) - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1
TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:British Indian Ocean Territory Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
:British Virgin Islands Geography
Total area:
150 km2
Land area:
150 km2; includes the island of Anegada
Comparative area:
about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
3 nm
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%
Environment:
subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October
Note:
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
:British Virgin Islands People
Population:
12,555 (July 1992), growth rate 1.2% (1992)
Birth rate:
20 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
—2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
20 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
71 years male, 75 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.3 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - British Virgin Islander(s); adjective - British Virgin Islander
Ethnic divisions:
over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin
Religions:
Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic
6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
Labor force:
4,911 (1980)
Organized labor:
NA% of labor force
:British Virgin Islands Government
Long-form name:
none
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Road Town
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
1 June 1977
Legal system:
English law
National holiday:
Territory Day, 1 July
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
