British Virgin Islands - wikipedia British Virgin Islands For the island group, which also includes the United States Virgin Islands and Spanish Virgin Islands, see Virgin Islands. Coordinates : 18 ° 30 ′ N 64 ° 30 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 18.500 ° N 64.500 ° W ﻿ / 18.500 ; - 64.500 Virgin Islands Flag Coat of arms Motto : `` Vigilate '' ( Latin ) `` Be Vigilant '' Anthem : `` God Save the Queen '' Territorial song : `` Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands '' Location of British Virgin Islands ( circled in red ) Status British Overseas Territory Capital and largest city Road Town 18 ° 25.883 ′ N 64 ° 37.383 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 18.431383 ° N 64.623050 ° W ﻿ / 18.431383 ; - 64.623050 Official languages English Ethnic groups 76.5 % Black 7 % White 5 % Hispanic 5 % Multiracial 2 % East Indian 4.5 % Other Demonym Virgin Islander Government Parliamentary dependency under constitutional monarchy Monarch Elizabeth II Governor Augustus Jaspert Deputy Governor V. Inez Archibald Premier Orlando Smith Responsible Minister ( UK ) Tariq Ahmad, Baron Ahmad of Wimbledon Legislature House of Assembly Established as a dependency of the United Kingdom Separate 1960 Autonomy 1967 Area Total 153 km ( 59 sq mi ) Water ( % ) 1.6 Population 2010 census 28,054 ( 212th ) Density 260 / km ( 673.4 / sq mi ) ( 68th ) GDP ( PPP ) estimate Total $853.4 million Per capita $43,366 Currency United States dollar ( USD ) Time zone AST ( UTC - 4 ) Drives on the left Calling code + 1 - 284 ISO 3166 code VG Internet TLD. vg Source for all ethnic groups including labels : 2010 Census of Population For the Overseas Territories. The British Virgin Islands ( BVI ), officially simply `` Virgin Islands '', are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, along with over 50 other smaller islands and cays. About 15 of the islands are inhabited. The capital, Road Town, is on Tortola, the largest island, which is about 20 km ( 12 mi ) long and 5 km ( 3 mi ) wide. The islands had a population of about 28,000 at the 2010 Census, of whom approximately 23,500 lived on Tortola. For the islands, the latest United Nations estimate ( 2016 ) is 30,661. British Virgin Islanders are British Overseas Territories citizens and since 2002 are British citizens as well. Although the territory is not part of the European Union and not directly subject to EU law, British Virgin Islanders are deemed to be citizens of the EU by virtue of their British citizenship. Parts of the islands were damaged in September 2017 by Hurricane Irma. The most severe destruction was on Tortola. Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Geography 4 Climate 5 Hurricane Irma 6 Politics 6.1 Subdivisions 6.2 Law and criminal justice 6.3 Military 7 Economy 7.1 Tourism 7.2 Financial services 7.2. 1 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act 7.2. 2 Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 7.3 Agriculture and industry 7.4 Currency 7.5 Workforce 7.5. 1 CARICOM status & The CARICOM Single Market Economy 8 Transport 9 Demographics 10 Education 11 Religion 12 Culture 12.1 Language 12.2 Music 12.3 Literature 13 Sport 14 See also 15 References 16 External links Name The official name of the territory is still simply the `` Virgin Islands '', but the prefix `` British '' is often used. This is commonly believed to distinguish it from the neighbouring American territory which changed its name from the `` Danish West Indies '' to `` Virgin Islands of the United States '' in 1917. However, local historians have disputed this, pointing to a variety of publications and public records dating from between 21 February 1857 and 12 September 1919 where the Territory is referred to as the British Virgin Islands. British Virgin Islands government publications continue to begin with the name `` The territory of the Virgin Islands '', and the territory 's passports simply refer to the `` Virgin Islands '', and all laws begin with the words `` Virgin Islands ''. Moreover, the territory 's Constitutional Commission has expressed the view that `` every effort should be made '' to encourage the use of the name `` Virgin Islands ''. But various public and quasi-public bodies continue to use the name `` British Virgin Islands '' or `` BVI '', including BVI Finance, BVI Electricity Corporation, BVI Tourist Board, BVI Athletic Association, BVI Bar Association and others. In 1968 the British Government issued a memorandum requiring that the postage stamps in the territory should say `` British Virgin Islands '' ( whereas previously they had simply stated `` Virgin Islands '' ), a practice which is still followed today. This was likely to prevent confusion following on from the adoption of US currency in the Territory in 1959, and the references to US currency on the stamps of the Territory. History Main article : History of the British Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands were first settled by the Arawak from South America around 100 BC ( though there is some evidence of Amerindian presence on the islands as far back as 1500 BC ). The Arawaks inhabited the islands until the 15th century when they were displaced by the more aggressive Caribs, a tribe from the Lesser Antilles islands, after whom the Caribbean Sea is named. The first European sighting of the Virgin Islands was by Christopher Columbus in 1493 on his second voyage to the Americas. Columbus gave them the fanciful name Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes ( Saint Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins ), shortened to Las Vírgenes ( The Virgins ), after the legend of Saint Ursula. The Spanish Empire claimed the islands by discovery in the early 16th century, but never settled them, and subsequent years saw the English, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Danish all jostling for control of the region, which became a notorious haunt for pirates. There is no record of any native Amerindian population in the British Virgin Islands during this period, although most of the native population on nearby Saint Croix was killed or dispersed. The Dutch established a permanent settlement on the island of Tortola by 1648. In 1672, the English captured Tortola from the Dutch, and the English annexation of Anegada and Virgin Gorda followed in 1680. Meanwhile, over the period 1672 -- 1733, the Danish gained control of the nearby islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix. The ruins of St. Phillip 's Church, Tortola, one of the most important historical ruins in the territory. The British islands were considered principally a strategic possession, but were planted when economic conditions were particularly favourable. The British introduced sugar cane which was to become the main crop and source of foreign trade, and slaves were brought from Africa to work on the sugar cane plantations. The islands prospered economically until the middle of the nineteenth century, when a combination of the abolition of slavery in the territory, a series of disastrous hurricanes, and the growth in the sugar beet crop in Europe and the United States significantly reduced sugar cane production and led to a period of economic decline. In 1917, the United States purchased St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix from Denmark for US $25 million, renaming them the United States Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands were administered variously as part of the British Leeward Islands or with St. Kitts and Nevis, with an administrator representing the British Government on the islands. The islands gained separate colony status in 1960 and became autonomous in 1967. Since the 1960s, the islands have diversified away from their traditionally agriculture - based economy towards tourism and financial services, becoming one of the wealthiest areas in the Caribbean. Geography Main article : Geography of the British Virgin Islands Map of British Virgin Islands ( Note : Anegada is farther away from the other islands than shown ) The British Virgin Islands comprise around 60 tropical Caribbean islands, ranging in size from the largest, Tortola 20 km ( 12 mi ) long and 5 km ( 3 mi ) wide, to tiny uninhabited islets, altogether about 150 square kilometres ( 58 square miles ) in extent. They are located in the Virgin Islands archipelago, a few miles east of the US Virgin Islands. The North Atlantic Ocean lies to the north of the islands, and the Caribbean Sea lies to the south. Most of the islands are volcanic in origin and have a hilly, rugged terrain. Anegada is geologically distinct from the rest of the group and is a flat island composed of limestone and coral. In addition to the four main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, other islands include ( see also Islands of the British Virgin Islands ) : Beef Island ( connected to Tortola ) Cooper Island Ginger Island Great Camanoe Great Thatch Guana Island ( owned by Henry Jarecki ) Little Thatch ( owned by Curt and Nancy Richardson ) Mosquito Island ( owned by Sir Richard Branson ) Necker Island ( owned by Sir Richard Branson ) Norman Island ( owned by Henry Jarecki ) Peter Island ( owned by Van Andel family ) Salt Island Prickly Pear Eustatia Saba Rock Frenchman 's Cay ( connected to Tortola ) Nanny Cay ( connected to Tortola ) Scrub Island Sandy Cay Green Cay Sandy Spit Little Jost Van Dyke Great Tobago Little Tobago Dog Islands a.k.a. `` The Dogs '' Climate Main article : Climate of the British Virgin Islands The British Virgin Islands have a tropical rainforest climate, moderated by trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. In the capital, Road Town, typical daily maxima are around 32 ° C ( 89.6 ° F ) in the summer and 29 ° C ( 84.2 ° F ) in the winter. Typical daily minima are around 24 ° C ( 75.2 ° F ) in the summer and 21 ° C ( 69.8 ° F ) in the winter. Rainfall averages about 1,150 mm ( 45.3 in ) per year, higher in the hills and lower on the coast. Rainfall can be quite variable, but the wettest months on average are September to November and the driest months on average are February and March. hide Climate data for Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° C ( ° F ) 33 ( 91 ) 32 ( 89 ) 32 ( 89 ) 35 ( 95 ) 34 ( 93 ) 35 ( 95 ) 35 ( 95 ) 36 ( 96 ) 35 ( 95 ) 33 ( 92 ) 33 ( 91 ) 31 ( 87 ) 36 ( 96 ) Average high ° C ( ° F ) 26 ( 79 ) 27 ( 80 ) 28 ( 82 ) 29 ( 84 ) 29 ( 85 ) 30 ( 86 ) 31 ( 87 ) 31 ( 87 ) 30 ( 86 ) 29 ( 85 ) 28 ( 82 ) 27 ( 80 ) 29 ( 84 ) Average low ° C ( ° F ) 20 ( 68 ) 19 ( 67 ) 20 ( 68 ) 21 ( 69 ) 22 ( 71 ) 23 ( 73 ) 23 ( 73 ) 23 ( 73 ) 23 ( 73 ) 22 ( 72 ) 22 ( 71 ) 21 ( 69 ) 22 ( 71 ) Record low ° C ( ° F ) 17 ( 62 ) 16 ( 60 ) 16 ( 60 ) 17 ( 62 ) 18 ( 64 ) 18 ( 65 ) 19 ( 66 ) 19 ( 66 ) 16 ( 61 ) 18 ( 64 ) 17 ( 63 ) 16 ( 60 ) 16 ( 60 ) Average precipitation mm ( inches ) 74.2 ( 2.92 ) 63.2 ( 2.49 ) 55.4 ( 2.18 ) 84.6 ( 3.33 ) 116.6 ( 4.59 ) 70.6 ( 2.78 ) 83.1 ( 3.27 ) 112 ( 4.4 ) 156 ( 6.14 ) 133.4 ( 5.25 ) 178.8 ( 7.04 ) 112 ( 4.4 ) 1,239.9 ( 48.79 ) Source : Intellicast Hurricanes occasionally hit the islands, with the hurricane season running from June to November. Hurricane Danny ( 2015 ) was the most recent until 7 September 2017 when Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage. Hurricane Irma Main article : Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands The islands were struck by Hurricane Irma on 6 September 2017, causing extensive damage, as well as four deaths in the BVI. A state of emergency was declared by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. The most significant damage was on Tortola. The UK 's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Tortola on 13 September 2017 and said that he was reminded of photos of Hiroshima after it had been hit by the atom bomb. By 8 September, the UK government sent troops with medical supplies and other aid. More troops were expected to arrive a day or two later, but the ship HMS Ocean, carrying more extensive assistance, was not expected to reach the islands for another two weeks, however. Entrepreneur Richard Branson, a resident of Necker Island ( British Virgin Islands ), called on the UK government to develop a massive disaster recovery plan for British islands that were damaged. That should include `` both through short - term aid and long - term infrastructure spending '', he said. Premier Orlando Smith also called for a comprehensive aid package to rebuild the BVI. On 10 September, PM Theresa May pledged £ 32 million to the Caribbean for a Hurricane relief fund ; the UK government would also match donations made by the public via the British Red Cross appeal. Specifics were not provided to the news media as to the amount that would be allocated to the Virgin Islands. Boris Johnson 's visit to Tortola on 13 September 2017 during his Caribbean tour was intended to confirm the UK 's commitment to helping restore British islands but he provided no additional comments on the aid package. He did confirm that HMS Ocean ( L12 ) was on the way to the BVI items like timber, buckets, bottled water, food, baby milk, bedding and clothing, as well as ten pickup trucks, building materials and hardware. Politics Main article : Politics of the British Virgin Islands Legislative Council building in Road Town. The High Court sits upstairs. Map of the European Union in the world with overseas countries and territories and outermost regions The territory operates as a parliamentary democracy. Ultimate executive authority in British Virgin Islands is vested in the Queen, and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor of the British Virgin Islands. The governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British government. Defence and most foreign affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The most recent constitution was adopted in 2007 ( the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 ) and came into force when the Legislative Council was dissolved for the 2007 general election. The head of government under the constitution is the Premier ( before the new constitution the office was referred to as Chief Minister ), who is elected in a general election along with the other members of the ruling government as well as the members of the opposition. Elections are held roughly every four years. A cabinet is nominated by the Premier and appointed and chaired by the Governor. The Legislature consists of the Queen ( represented by the Governor ) and a unicameral House of Assembly made up of 13 elected members plus the Speaker and the Attorney General. The current Governor is Augustus Jaspert ( since 22 August 2017 ). The current Premier is Orlando Smith ( since 9 November 2011 ), who is leader of the ruling National Democratic Party. Subdivisions Main articles : Elections in the British Virgin Islands and Districts of the British Virgin Islands The British Virgin Islands is a unitary territory. The territory is divided into nine electoral districts, and each voter is registered in one of those districts. Eight of the nine districts are partly or wholly on Tortola, and encompass nearby neighbouring islands. Only the ninth district ( Virgin Gorda and Anegada ) does not include any part of Tortola. At elections, in addition to voting their local representative, voters also cast votes for four `` at - large '' candidates who are elected upon a territory - wide basis. The territory is also technically divided into five administrative districts ( one for each of the four largest islands, and then a fifth for all other islands ), and into six civil registry districts ( three for Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Anegada ) although these have little practical relevance today. Law and criminal Justice Main article : Law of the British Virgin Islands Crime in the British Virgin Islands is comparatively low by Caribbean standards ( and indeed compared to the neighbouring US Virgin Islands ). Whilst statistics and hard data are relatively rare, and are not regularly published by governmental sources in the British Virgin Islands, the Premier did announce that in 2013 there has been a 14 % decline in recorded crime as against 2012. Homicides are rare, with just one incident recorded in 2013. The British and US Virgin Islands sit at the axis of a major drugs transshipment point between Latin America and the continental United States. The American DEA regards the adjacent US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands as a `` High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area ''. A co-operation agreement exists between the British Virgin Islands and the US Coast Guard allowing American forces to pursue suspected drug traffickers through the territorial waters of the British Virgin Islands. In August 2011 a joint raid between the American DEA and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force arrested a number of British Virgin Islands residents who are accused of being involved in major drugs transshipments, although their extradition to the United States has become bogged down in protracted legal wrangling. Military Main article : Military of the British Virgin Islands Economy Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands Main article : Economy of the British Virgin Islands As a tax haven with an opaque banking system, the British Virgin Islands enjoys one of the more prosperous economies of the Caribbean region, with a per capita average income of around $42,300 ( 2010 est. ) The average monthly income earned by a worker in the territory was US $2,452 as at the time of the 2010 Census. 29 % of the population fell into the `` low income '' category. Although it is common to hear criticism in the British Virgin Islands ' press about income inequality, no serious attempt has been made by economists to calculate a Gini coefficient or similar measure of income equality for the territory. A report from 2000 suggested that, despite the popular perception, income inequality was actually lower in the British Virgin Islands than in any other OECS state, although in global terms income equality is higher in the Caribbean than in many other regions. The `` twin pillars '' of the economy are tourism and financial services. Politically, tourism is the more important of the two, as it employs a greater number of people within the territory, and a larger proportion of the businesses in the tourist industry are locally owned, as are a number of the highly tourism - dependent sole traders ( for example, taxi drivers and street vendors ). Economically however, financial services associated with the territory 's status as an offshore financial centre are by far the more important. 51.8 % of the Government 's revenue comes directly from licence fees for offshore companies, and considerable further sums are raised directly or indirectly from payroll taxes relating to salaries paid within the trust industry sector ( which tend to be higher on average than those paid in the tourism sector ). Tourism The Baths, Virgin Gorda Tourism accounts for approximately 45 % of national income. The islands are a popular destination for US citizens. In 2006 a total of 825,603 people visited the islands, of whom 443,987 were cruise ship passengers. Tourists frequent the numerous white sand beaches, visit The Baths on Virgin Gorda, snorkel the coral reefs near Anegada, or experience the well - known bars of Jost Van Dyke. The BVI are known as one of the world 's greatest sailing destinations, and charter sailboats are a very popular way to visit less accessible islands. Every year since 1972 the BVI has hosted the Spring Regatta, which is a seven - day collection of sailing races throughout the islands. A substantial number of the tourists who visit the BVI are cruise ship passengers, and although they produce far lower revenue per head than charter boat tourists and hotel based tourists, they are nonetheless important to the substantial - and politically important - taxi driving community. Only Virgin Islanders are permitted to work as taxi drivers. Financial services Financial services account for over half of the income of the territory. The majority of this revenue is generated by the licensing of offshore companies and related services. The British Virgin Islands is a significant global player in the offshore financial services industry. In 2000 KPMG reported in its survey of offshore jurisdictions for the United Kingdom government that over 45 % of the world 's offshore companies were formed in the British Virgin Islands. Since 2001, financial services in the British Virgin Islands have been regulated by the independent Financial Services Commission. At the end of 2012 the banking sector of the British Virgin Islands comprised six commercial banks and one restricted bank, 12 authorised custodians, two licensed money services businesses and one licensed financing service provider. As such the British Virgin Islands is frequently labelled as a `` tax haven '' by campaigners and NGOs, and has been expressly named in anti-tax haven legislation in other countries on various occasions. Successive governments in the British Virgin Islands have fought against the tax haven label, and made various commitments to tax exchange and recording beneficial ownership information of companies following the 2013 G8 summit. On 10 September 2013 British Prime Minister David Cameron said `` I do not think it is fair any longer to refer to any of the Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies as tax havens. They have taken action to make sure that they have fair and open tax systems. It is very important that our focus should now shift to those territories and countries that really are tax havens. '' In the April 2016 Panama Papers leak, the British Virgin Islands was the most commonly used tax haven by clients of Mossack Fonseca. Foreign Account tax Compliance Act On June 30, 2014, The British Virgin Islands was deemed to have an Inter - Governmental Agreement ( IGA ) with the United States of America with respect to the `` Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act '' of the United States of America. The Model 1 Agreement ( 14 Pages ) recognizes that : The Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland provided a copy of the Letter of Entrustment which was sent to the Government of the British Virgin Islands, to the Government of the United States of America `` via diplomatic note of May 28, 2014 ''. The Letter of Entrustment dated July 14, 2010 was originally provided to the Government of the British Virgin Islands and authorized the Govt of the BVI `` to negotiate and conclude Agreements relating to taxation that provide for exchange of information on tax matters to the OECD standard '' ( Paragraph 2 of the FATCA Agreement ). Via an `` Entrustment Letter '' dated March 24, 2014, The Govt of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, authorized the Govt of the BVI to sign an agreement on information exchange to facilitate the Implementation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. On March 27, 2017, the US Treasury site disclosed that the Model 1 agreement and related agreement were `` In Force '' on July 13, 2015. Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act Under the UK Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2018, beneficial ownership of companies in British overseas territories such as the British Virgin Islands must be publicly registered for disclosure by 31 December 2020. The Government of the British Virgin Islands plans to challenge this law, arguing that it violates the Constitutional sovereignty granted to the islands. Agriculture and industry Agriculture and industry account for only a small proportion of the islands ' GDP. Agricultural produce includes fruit, vegetables, sugar cane, livestock and poultry, and industries include rum distillation, construction and boat building. Currency The official currency of the British Virgin Islands has been the United States dollar ( US $ ) since 1959, the currency also used by the United States Virgin Islands. Workforce The British Virgin Islands is heavily dependent on migrant workers, and over 50 % of all workers on the islands are of a foreign descent. Only 37 % of the entire population were born in the territory. The national labour - force is estimated at 12,770, of whom approximately 59.4 % work in the service sector but less than 0.6 % are estimated to work in agriculture ( the balance in industry ). CARICOM status & the CARICOM Single market economy According to the membership section of the CARICOM Community site, as of July 2, 1991, The British Virgin Islands holds Associate Member status in CARICOM. In recognition of the CARICOM ( Free Movement ) Skilled Persons Act which came into effect in July 1997 in some of the CARICOM countries such as Jamaica and which has been adopted in other CARICOM countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago, it is possible that CARICOM nationals who hold the `` A Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skilled Person '' may be allowed to work in the BVI under normal working conditions. Transport Main article : Transport in the British Virgin Islands There are 113 kilometres ( 70 mi ) of roads. The main airport, Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, also known as Beef Island Airport, is located on Beef Island, which lies off the eastern tip of Tortola and is accessible by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Cape Air, LIAT and Air Sunshine are amongst the airlines offering scheduled service. Virgin Gorda and Anegada have their own smaller airports. Private air charter services operated by Island Birds Air Charter fly directly to all three islands from any major airport in the Caribbean. Helicopters are used to get to islands with no runway facilities ; Antilles Helicopter Services is the only helicopter service based in the country. The main harbour is in Road Town. There are also ferries that operate within the British Virgin Islands and to the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands. As in the UK and in the United States Virgin Islands, cars in the British Virgin Islands drive on the left, however they differ in that nearly all cars are left hand drive, being imported from the United States. The roads are often quite steep, narrow and winding, and ruts can be a problem when it rains. Cyril E. King Airport in the US Virgin Islands has flights to a wider range of destinations, so is also used for travelling to the British Virgin Islands. Demographics Main article : Demographics of the British Virgin Islands As of the 2010 Census, the population of the territory was 28,054. At the time of the 2003 census the population was around 21,730. The majority of the population ( 83 % ) are Afro - Caribbean, descended from slaves brought to the islands by the British. Other large ethnic groups include those of British and other European origin. The 2004 Census reports : 83.4 % African 7 % European / Caucasian 9.6 % Others * * Includes Indian, Carib / Amerindian, Black / Carib mixed, and mixed - race Hispanic The 2010 Census reports the main places of origin of residents as follows : 37 % local born ( many locals go to St. Thomas or the United States for maternity services ) 7.2 % Guyana 7.0 % St. Vincent and the Grenadines 6.0 % Jamaica 5.5 % United States 5.4 % Dominican Republic 5.3 % United States Virgin Islands * Includes Indian, Carib / Amerindian, Black / Carib mixed, and mixed - race Hispanic. About 4 % of the population is of Hispanic origin, irrespective of race, primarily from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The territory has also been recently relieving immigrants from many islands in Lesser Antilles. The islands are heavily dependent upon migrant labour. In 2004, migrant workers accounted for 50 % of the total population. 32 % of workers employed in the British Virgin Islands work for the government. Unusually, the territory has one of the highest drowning mortality rates in the world being higher than other high risk countries such as China and India. 20 % of deaths in the British Virgin Islands during 2012 were recorded as drownings, all of them being tourists. Despite this, the territory 's most popular beach still has no lifeguard presence. Education Main article : Education in the British Virgin Islands The British Virgin Islands operates several government schools as well as private schools. There is also a community college, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, that is located on the eastern end of Tortola. This college was named after Lavity Stoutt, the first Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands. It is extremely common for students from the British Virgin Islands to travel overseas for tertiary education, either to the University of the West Indies, or to colleges and universities in either the United Kingdom, United States, or Canada. The literacy rate in the British Virgin Islands is high at 98 %. There is a University of the West Indies Open campus in the territory. Religion Over 90 % of the population who indicated a religious affiliation at the 2010 Census were Christian with the largest individual Christian denominations being Methodist ( 17.6 % ), Anglican ( 12 % ), Church of God ( 11 % ) and Roman Catholic ( 9 % ). The Constitution of the British Virgin Islands commences with a professed national belief in God. Hindus and Muslims constitute each approximately 1.2 % of the population according to Word Religion Database 2005. Religion in % of population National Census 2001 hide 1991 Methodist 22.7 32.9 Anglican 11.6 16.7 Church of God 11.4 9.2 Roman Catholic 9.5 10.5 Pentecostal 9.1 4.1 Seventh Day Adventist 8.4 6.3 Baptist 8.2 4.7 None 6.4 3.6 Other 3.4 4.4 Not stated 2.7 Jehovah 's Witnesses 2.2 Hindu 2.0 2.2 Muslim 0.9 0.6 Evangelical 0.5 -- Moravian 0.5 0.6 Rastafarian 0.4 0.2 Presbyterian 0.4 0.7 Bahai 0.03 0.00 Brethren 0.03 0.04 Salvation Army 0.03 0.04 Culture Main article : Culture of the Virgin Islands Language Main article : Virgin Islands Creole The primary language is British English, although there is a local dialect. Spanish is spoken by Puerto Rican, Dominican and other Spanish - speaking immigrants. Music Main article : Music of the Virgin Islands The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands is called fungi after the local cornmeal dish with the same name, often made with okra. The special sound of fungi is due to a unique local fusion between African and European music. It functions as a medium of local history and folklore and is therefore a cherished cultural form of expression that is part of the curriculum in BVI schools. The fungi bands, also called `` scratch bands '', use instruments ranging from calabash, washboard, bongos and ukulele, to more traditional western instruments like keyboard, banjo, guitar, bass, triangle and saxophone. Apart from being a form of festive dance music, fungi often contains humorous social commentaries, as well as BVI oral history. Literature Among the noted names in Virgin Islands literature are Alphaeus Osario Norman ( 1885 - 1942 ), Verna Penn Moll, Jennie Wheatley, and Patricia G. Turnbull. Their poetry and that of 22 other writers, including the fastly emerging poet and literary critic Richard Georges, can be found in Where I See the Sun -- Contemporary Poetry in The Virgin Islands ( Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke ), an anthology edited by Lasana M. Sekou in 2016. Sport See also : Cricket in the West Indies Because of its location and climate the British Virgin Islands has long been a haven for sailing enthusiasts. Sailing is regarded as one of the foremost sports in all of the BVI. Calm waters and steady breezes provide some of the best sailing conditions in the Caribbean. Many sailing events are held in the waters of this country, the largest of which is a week - long series of races called the Spring Regatta, the premier sailing event of the Caribbean, with several races hosted each day. Boats include everything from full - size mono - hull yachts to dinghies. Captains and their crews come from all around the world to attend these races. The Spring Regatta is part race, part party, part festival. There are races, games, and music during the day, and some partying at night. The Spring Regatta is normally held during the first week of April. Since 2009, the BVI have made a name for themselves as a host of international basketball events. The BVI hosted three of the last four events of the Caribbean Basketball Championship ( FIBA CBC Championship ). See also Outline of the British Virgin Islands List of British Virgin Islanders British Virgin Islands portal Caribbean portal United Kingdom portal References ^ Jump up to : The BVI Beacon `` Portrait of a population : 2010 Census published '' p. 4, 20 November 2014 Jump up ^ `` The World Factbook ''. cia.gov. Jump up ^ According to the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, the territory 's official name is simply ' Virgin Islands '. Jump up ^ `` World Population Prospects : The 2017 Revision ''. ESA.UN.org ( custom data acquired via website ). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 10 September 2017. Jump up ^ Although under Council Regulation No. 1932 / 2006 BOTCs `` without the right of abode in the UK '' were classified as non-EU nationals, the conferment of British citizenship in 2002 means most BOTCs acquired the right of abode in the United Kingdom along with British citizenship and hence are not considered by the EU as third - country nationals. Jump up ^ `` Survivors on Tortola recall storm horror ''. BBC News. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018. ^ Jump up to : Moll, Peter ( 15 December 2016 ). `` Victorian news mined for VI history ''. BVI Beacon. Jump up ^ `` About the Territory ''. Government of the Virgin Islands. Retrieved 31 March 2015. Jump up ^ Wilson, Samuel M. ed. The Indigenous People of the Caribbean. Gainesville : University Press of Florida, 1997. ISBN 0 - 8130 - 1692 - 4 Jump up ^ In the United Kingdom, a major market for sugar from the Territory, the Sugar Duties Act 1846 also created a considerable downward effect on the price of Caribbean sugar cane. Jump up ^ `` Virgin Gorda historic weather averages in British Virgin Islands ''. Intellicast. Retrieved 4 July 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Richard Branson ' devastated ' about Hurricane Irma destruction ''. 7 September 2017. Jump up ^ CNN, Eliza Mackintosh and Donie O'Sullivan,. `` Do n't forget about us : Irma 's desperate Caribbean survivors ''. ^ Jump up to : `` Subscribe to read ''. Financial Times. Jump up ^ Bosotti, Aurora ( 8 September 2017 ). `` Hurricane Irma damage UPDATE : British Virgin Islands Destroyed by deadly storm ''. Daily Express. Jump up ^ `` Paradise lost : Tortola seeks UK aid after Irma ''. Jump up ^ `` Boris Johnson reminded of Hiroshima on visit to Irma - hit Tortola ''. Jump up ^ ( now ), Naaman Zhou ; Yuhas, Alan ; Weaver, Matthew ; Farrer, Martin ; ( earlier ), and Martin Pengelly ; Pilkington, Ed ( 12 September 2017 ). `` Caribbean in chaos as Irma brings floods to Florida Keys -- as it happened '' -- via www.theguardian.com. Jump up ^ Farmer, Ben ; Swinford, Steven ( 8 September 2017 ). `` British response to Hurricane Irma ' found wanting ', senior MPs say, as Royal Navy arrives in Caribbean '' -- via www.telegraph.co.uk. Jump up ^ ( now ), Naaman Zhou ; Yuhas, Alan ; Weaver, Matthew ; Farrer, Martin ; ( earlier ), and Martin Pengelly ( 12 September 2017 ). `` Caribbean in chaos as Irma brings floods to Florida Keys -- as it happened '' -- via www.theguardian.com. Jump up ^ CNN, Hilary Clarke and Samantha Beech,. `` European leaders step up Irma relief effort in Caribbean ''. Jump up ^ Siddique, Haroon ; Pengelly, Martin ( 11 September 2017 ). `` What we know so far as Hurricane Irma lashes Florida '' -- via www.theguardian.com. Jump up ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hurricane-irma-foreign-secretarys-visit-to-the-uk-overseas-territories-in-the-Caribbean Jump up ^ `` French, British officials view Irma 's damage, vow island aid ''. 14 September 2017. Jump up ^ Stinson, Nicole ( 14 September 2017 ). `` Hurricane Irma : British marines hunt Caribbean prison inmates after storm jailbreak ''. Jump up ^ `` Explanatory Memorandum to the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 '' ( PDF ). Jump up ^ `` The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 ''. Jump up ^ `` Which Caribbean Islands are the Safest, Most Dangerous ? ''. About.com. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` Crimes down by 14 % -- Premier ''. BVI News. 13 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` How safe is the Caribbean ? An Island by Island Look ''. International Business Times. 22 December 2011. Jump up ^ `` US sees shift in cocaine trafficking ''. BVI Beacon. 9 February 2012. Jump up ^ US Justice Department ( 25 August 2011 ). `` Thirteen Indicted for Airdropping Multi-Hundred Kilogram Quantities of Cocaine in the Caribbean Sea and for Money Laundering Offenses ''. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012. Jump up ^ `` Three Years On & Extradition Proceedings Still Unsettled ''. BVI Platinum. 8 September 2014. Jump up ^ Fox, Ben ( 2009 - 05 - 09 ). `` Islands resent crackdown of the tax havens by G - 20 ''. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2009 - 05 - 15. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 02. Jump up ^ McKenzie, Nick ; Baker, Richard ( 2013 - 11 - 18 ). `` Leighton Holdings linked to ' corrupt ' fees for Iraq pipeline contracts ''. The Australian. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 02. ( subscription required ) Jump up ^ CIA. Economy : British Virgin Islands. The World Factbook, CIA publications, 19 December. 2006. Retrieved 25 December. 2006. Jump up ^ Dennis C. Canterbury. European Bloc Imperialism. ISBN 9004184953. Jump up ^ Review of Financial Regulation in the Crown Dependencies ( Cmnd Paper 4855 of 2000 ). HMSO. Part III, paragraph 1.3. ISBN 0 10 148554 9. Retrieved 19 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` List of Banks in British Virgin Islands ''. thebanks.eu. Jump up ^ `` Annual Report 2012 ( Final ) ''. bvifsc.vg. Jump up ^ Leigh, David ; Frayman, Harold ; Ball, James ( 25 November 2012 ). `` Offshore secrets : British Virgin Islands, land of sand, sea and secrecy ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2015. Jump up ^ See for example the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act Jump up ^ International Adviser ( 12 September 2013 ). `` Jersey, Guernsey, IoM revel in Cameron 's ' not tax havens ' comments ''. BBC News ( 10 September 2013 ). `` David Cameron : Crown dependency tax haven banner ' not fair ' ''. Jump up ^ Karmanau, Yuras ( April 4, 2016 ). `` Ukrainian president under fire over Panama Papers ''. Associated Press. Retrieved April 4, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ( FATCA ) ''. www.treasury.gov. Jump up ^ https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Documents/FATCA-Agreement-BVI-6-30-2014.pdf Jump up ^ https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Documents/FATCA-Agreement-BVI-6-30-2014.pdf. ^ Jump up to : https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/overseas-territories-to-fight-public-register-demands/5066370.article ^ Jump up to : The Times. `` British Virgin Islands -- workforce ''. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 19. Jump up ^ Secretariat, CARICOM. `` Country Profile for British Virgin Islands -- Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) Secretariat ''. caricom.org. Jump up ^ Secretariat, CARICOM. `` Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) -- Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) Secretariat ''. caricom.org. Jump up ^ `` : Caribbean Single Market Economy ( CSME ) :. : : Ministry of Labour and Social Security : :. : ''. www.mlss.gov.jm. Jump up ^ Security, Immigration Division Ministry of National. `` CSME ''. immigration.gov.tt. Jump up ^ http://www.caribbeanjobs.com/careers/page/How-to-Apply-for-a-CARICOM-Skills-Certificate.aspx Jump up ^ `` British Virgin Islands ( British Overseas Territory ) travel advice - GOV.UK ''. fco.gov.uk. Jump up ^ `` Drowning '', publication World Health Organization ^ Jump up to : The BVI Beacon, Thursday, August 15, 2013 article entitled `` Report : Passports up, marriages down last year ''. Jump up ^ Annual Report of the Civil Registry and Passport Office for 2012 which includes `` For the 20 percent that represented drowning, all were tourists who died from snorkelling or diving in the VI waters in and around caves at Norman Island, as well as near Virgin Gorda... The Virgin Islands should, therefore put safety measures in place such as the dissemination of information to hotels, dive shops and marinas. '' The same report confirms that the deaths of 86 persons were recorded in the Territory during 2012. Jump up ^ `` No lifeguards at Cane Garden Bay & Virgin Gorda beaches ''. virginislandsnewsonline.com. Jump up ^ British Virgin Islands Schools Archived 23 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine., BVI Government website Jump up ^ http://open.uwi.edu/british_virgin_islands ^ Jump up to : The BVI Beacon `` Portrait of a population : 2010 Census published '' pg. 6, 20 November 2014 ^ Jump up to : `` National Population Census Report 2001 -- The British Virgin Islands '' ( PDF ). Caribbean Community Secretariat. 2009. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 07. Jump up ^ The second paragraphs of the recitals ( appearing between Article 1 and Article 2 ) contains the words : `` ( T ) he society of the Virgin Islands is based upon certain moral, spiritual and democratic values including a belief in God. '' Jump up ^ cited in `` Mapping the Global Muslim Population '' ( PDF ). Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. 2009. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 07. Jump up ^ Penn, Dexter J.A. Music of the British Virgin Islands : Fungi Archived 26 May 2012 at Archive.is. Retrieved 13 January 2008. Jump up ^ `` BVI Book Of Poetry Set For Year End Reveal ''. Jump up ^ `` The Best Sailing ''. Retrieved 2011 - 12 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Yacht Races ''. vacationtortola.com. External links Find more aboutBritish Virgin Islandsat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Wikimedia Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel guide from Wikivoyage Learning resources from Wikiversity Directories British Virgin Islands from UCB Libraries GovPubs British Virgin Islands at Curlie ( based on DMOZ ) British Virgin Islands Guide from The Moorings NGO sources `` Non-Self - Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002 ''. United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization. Retrieved 10 March 2005. Official sites and overviews The Government of the British Virgin Islands ( official government site ) The Government of the BVI, London Office -- Official government site HM Governor 's Office in the British Virgin Islands Old Government House Museum, British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands Tourist Board The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority -- Official site National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands -- Official site British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission -- Official site `` British Virgin Islands ''. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Wikimedia content Wikimedia Atlas of British Virgin Islands Articles related to the British Virgin Islands Geographic locale Lat. and Long. 18 ° 25 ′ 53 '' N 64 ° 37 ′ 23 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 18.43139 ° N 64.62306 ° W ﻿ / 18.43139 ; - 64.62306 ( Road Town ) Countries and dependencies of North America Sovereign states Entire Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama St. Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States In part Colombia San Andrés and Providencia France Guadeloupe Martinique Caribbean Netherlands Bonaire Saba Sint Eustatius Dependencies Denmark Greenland France Clipperton Island St. Barthélemy St. Martin St. Pierre and Miquelon Netherlands Aruba Curaçao Sint Maarten United Kingdom Anguilla Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Montserrat Turks and Caicos Islands United States Navassa Island Puerto Rico United States Virgin Islands Venezuela Federal Dependencies Nueva Esparta International membership Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) Secretariat ( Secretary - General ) Members Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica Montserrat St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Associate members Anguilla Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Turks and Caicos Islands Observers Aruba Colombia Curaçao Dominican Republic Mexico Puerto Rico Sint Maarten Venezuela Institutions Common Fund for Commodities ( CFC ) Court of Justice ( CCJ ) Disaster Emergency Management ( CDEMA ) Examinations Council ( CXC ) Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology Public Health Agency ( CARPHA ) Single Market and Economy ( CSME ) Related organizations CARIFORUM Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States ( OECS ) Member of the Community but not of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy ( CSME ) British overseas territory awaiting entrustment to join the CSME Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States ( OECS ) Members Antigua and Barbuda Dominica Grenada Montserrat St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Associate members Anguilla British Virgin Islands Martinique Financial institutions East Caribbean dollar Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Registry Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Other institutions Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Countries, territories and dependencies of the United Kingdom Constituent countries England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Overseas territories Akrotiri and Dhekelia Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands Crown dependencies Bailiwick of Guernsey Guernsey Alderney Sark Isle of Man Jersey Former colonies List of countries that have gained independence from the United Kingdom Sovereign Base Areas. Partial suspension of sovereignty due to the Antarctic Treaty. Dependencies of European Union states Denmark Faroe Islands Greenland France Clipperton Island French Polynesia French Southern and Antarctic Lands Adélie Land Île Amsterdam Crozet Islands Îles Éparses Kerguelen Islands Île Saint - Paul New Caledonia Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Wallis and Futuna Netherlands Aruba Caribbean Netherlands Curaçao Sint Maarten United Kingdom Crown dependencies Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Sovereign Base Areas Akrotiri and Dhekelia Overseas territories Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands Outlying territories of European countries Territories under European sovereignty but closer to or on continents other than Europe ( see inclusion criteria for further information ). Denmark Greenland France Clipperton Island French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern and Antarctic Lands Adélie Land Crozet Islands Île Amsterdam Île Saint - Paul Kerguelen Islands Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean Guadeloupe Martinique Mayotte New Caledonia Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Wallis and Futuna Italy Pantelleria Pelagie Islands Lampedusa Lampione Linosa Netherlands Aruba Caribbean Netherlands Bonaire Saba Sint Eustatius Curaçao Sint Maarten Norway Bouvet Island Peter I Island Queen Maud Land Portugal Azores Madeira Spain Canary Islands Ceuta Melilla Plazas de soberanía Chafarinas Islands Alhucemas Islands Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera United Kingdom Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands British Empire Legend Current territory Former territory * Now a Commonwealth realm Now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations Historical flags of the British Empire Europe 1542 -- 1800 Ireland ( integrated into UK ) 1708 -- 1757, 1763 -- 1782 and 1798 -- 1802 Minorca Since 1713 Gibraltar 1800 -- 1813 Malta ( Protectorate ) 1813 -- 1964 Malta ( Colony ) 1807 -- 1890 Heligoland 1809 -- 1864 Ionian Islands 1878 -- 1960 Cyprus 1921 -- 1937 Irish Free State North America 17th century and before 18th century 19th and 20th century 1579 New Albion 1583 -- 1907 Newfoundland 1605 -- 1979 * Saint Lucia 1607 -- 1776 Virginia Since 1619 Bermuda 1620 -- 1691 Plymouth 1623 -- 1883 Saint Kitts 1624 -- 1966 * Barbados 1625 -- 1650 Saint Croix 1627 -- 1979 * Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1628 -- 1883 Nevis 1629 -- 1691 Massachusetts Bay 1632 -- 1776 Maryland since 1632 Montserrat 1632 -- 1860 Antigua 1635 -- 1644 Saybrook 1636 -- 1776 Connecticut 1636 -- 1776 Rhode Island 1637 -- 1662 New Haven 1643 -- 1860 Bay Islands Since 1650 Anguilla 1655 -- 1850 Mosquito Coast 1655 -- 1962 * Jamaica 1663 -- 1712 Carolina 1664 -- 1776 New York 1665 -- 1674 and 1702 -- 1776 New Jersey Since 1666 Virgin Islands Since 1670 Cayman Islands 1670 -- 1973 * Bahamas 1670 -- 1870 Rupert 's Land 1671 -- 1816 Leeward Islands 1674 -- 1702 East Jersey 1674 -- 1702 West Jersey 1680 -- 1776 New Hampshire 1681 -- 1776 Pennsylvania 1686 -- 1689 New England 1691 -- 1776 Massachusetts Bay 1701 -- 1776 Delaware 1712 -- 1776 North Carolina 1712 -- 1776 South Carolina 1713 -- 1867 Nova Scotia 1733 -- 1776 Georgia 1754 -- 1820 Cape Breton Island 1762 -- 1974 * Grenada 1763 -- 1978 Dominica 1763 -- 1873 Prince Edward Island 1763 -- 1791 Quebec 1763 -- 1783 East Florida 1763 -- 1783 West Florida 1784 -- 1867 New Brunswick 1791 -- 1841 Lower Canada 1791 -- 1841 Upper Canada Since 1799 Turks and Caicos Islands 1818 -- 1846 Columbia District / Oregon Country 1833 -- 1960 Windward Islands 1833 -- 1960 Leeward Islands 1841 -- 1867 Canada 1849 -- 1866 Vancouver Island 1853 -- 1863 Queen Charlotte Islands 1858 -- 1866 British Columbia 1859 -- 1870 North - Western Territory 1860 -- 1981 * British Antigua and Barbuda 1862 -- 1863 Stickeen 1866 -- 1871 British Columbia 1867 -- 1931 * Dominion of Canada 1871 -- 1964 Honduras 1882 -- 1983 * Saint Kitts and Nevis 1889 -- 1962 Trinidad and Tobago 1907 -- 1949 Newfoundland 1958 -- 1962 West Indies Federation 1. Occupied jointly with the United States. 2. In 1931, Canada and other British dominions obtained self - government through the Statute of Westminster. See Name of Canada. 3. Gave up self - rule in 1934, but remained a de jure Dominion until it joined Canada in 1949. South America 1631 -- 1641 Providence Island 1651 -- 1667 Willoughbyland 1670 -- 1688 Saint Andrew and Providence Islands 1831 -- 1966 Guiana Since 1833 Falkland Islands Since 1908 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 4. Now a department of Colombia. 5. Occupied by Argentina during the Falklands War of April -- June 1982. Africa 17th and 18th centuries 19th century 20th century Since 1658 Saint Helena 1792 -- 1961 Sierra Leone 1795 -- 1803 Cape Colony Since 1815 Ascension Island Since 1816 Tristan da Cunha 1806 -- 1910 Cape of Good Hope 1807 -- 1808 Madeira 1810 -- 1968 Mauritius 1816 -- 1965 The Gambia 1856 -- 1910 Natal 1862 -- 1906 Lagos 1868 -- 1966 Basutoland 1874 -- 1957 Gold Coast 1882 -- 1922 Egypt 1884 -- 1900 Niger Coast 1884 -- 1966 Bechuanaland 1884 -- 1960 Somaliland 1887 -- 1897 Zululand 1890 -- 1962 Uganda 1890 -- 1963 Zanzibar 1891 -- 1964 Nyasaland 1891 -- 1907 Central Africa 1893 -- 1968 Swaziland 1895 -- 1920 East Africa 1899 -- 1956 Sudan 1900 -- 1914 Northern Nigeria 1900 -- 1914 Southern Nigeria 1900 -- 1910 Orange River 1900 -- 1910 Transvaal 1903 -- 1976 Seychelles 1910 -- 1931 South Africa 1914 -- 1960 Nigeria 1915 -- 1931 South - West Africa 1919 -- 1961 Cameroons 1920 -- 1963 Kenya 1922 -- 1961 Tanganyika 1923 -- 1965 and 1979 -- 1980 Southern Rhodesia 1924 -- 1964 Northern Rhodesia 6. League of Nations mandate. 7. Self - governing Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965 ( as Rhodesia ) and continued as an unrecognised state until the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement. After recognised independence in 1980, Zimbabwe was a member of the Commonwealth until it withdrew in 2003. Asia 17th and 18th century 19th century 20th century 1685 -- 1824 Bencoolen 1702 -- 1705 Pulo Condore 1757 -- 1947 Bengal 1762 -- 1764 Manila and Cavite 1781 -- 1784 and 1795 -- 1819 Padang 1786 -- 1946 Penang 1795 -- 1948 Ceylon 1796 -- 1965 Maldives 1811 -- 1816 Java 1812 -- 1824 Banka and Billiton 1819 -- 1826 Malaya 1824 -- 1948 Burma 1826 -- 1946 Straits Settlements 1839 -- 1967 Aden 1839 -- 1842 Afghanistan 1841 -- 1997 Hong Kong 1841 -- 1946 Sarawak 1848 -- 1946 Labuan 1858 -- 1947 India 1874 -- 1963 Borneo 1879 -- 1919 Afghanistan ( protectorate ) 1882 -- 1963 North Borneo 1885 -- 1946 Unfederated Malay States 1888 -- 1984 Brunei 1891 -- 1971 Muscat and Oman 1892 -- 1971 Trucial States 1895 -- 1946 Federated Malay States 1898 -- 1930 Weihai 1878 -- 1960 Cyprus 1907 -- 1949 Bhutan ( protectorate ) 1918 -- 1961 Kuwait 1920 -- 1932 Mesopotamia 1921 -- 1946 Transjordan 1923 -- 1948 Palestine 1945 -- 1946 South Vietnam 1946 -- 1963 North Borneo 1946 -- 1963 Sarawak 1946 -- 1963 Singapore 1946 -- 1948 Malayan Union 1948 -- 1957 Federation of Malaya Since 1960 Akrotiri and Dhekelia ( before as part of Cyprus ) Since 1965 British Indian Ocean Territory ( before as part of Mauritius and the Seychelles ) League of Nations mandate. Iraq 's mandate was not enacted and replaced by the Anglo - Iraqi Treaty Oceania 18th and 19th centuries 20th century 1788 -- 1901 New South Wales 1803 -- 1901 Van Diemen 's Land / Tasmania 1807 -- 1863 Auckland Islands 1824 -- 1980 New Hebrides 1824 -- 1901 Queensland 1829 -- 1901 Swan River / Western Australia 1836 -- 1901 South Australia since 1838 Pitcairn Islands 1841 -- 1907 New Zealand 1851 -- 1901 Victoria 1874 -- 1970 Fiji 1877 -- 1976 Western Pacific Territories 1884 -- 1949 Papua 1888 -- 1901 Rarotonga / Cook Islands 1889 -- 1948 Union Islands 1892 -- 1979 Gilbert and Ellice Islands 1893 -- 1978 Solomon Islands 1900 -- 1970 Tonga 1900 -- 1974 Niue 1901 -- 1942 * Australia 1907 -- 1947 * New Zealand 1919 -- 1942 and 1945 -- 1968 Nauru 1919 -- 1949 New Guinea 1949 -- 1975 Papua and New Guinea 9. Now part of the * Realm of New Zealand. 10. Suspended member. 11. Now Kiribati and * Tuvalu. 12. Now the * Solomon Islands. 13. Now * Papua New Guinea. Antarctica and South Atlantic Since 1658 Saint Helena Since 1815 Ascension Island Since 1816 Tristan da Cunha Since 1908 British Antarctic Territory 1841 -- 1933 Australian Antarctic Territory ( transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia ) 1841 -- 1947 Ross Dependency ( transferred to the Realm of New Zealand ) 14. Since 2009 part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ; Ascension Island ( 1922 -- ) and Tristan da Cunha ( 1938 -- ) were previously dependencies of Saint Helena. 15. Both claimed in 1908 ; territories formed in 1962 ( British Antarctic Territory ) and 1985 ( South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ). Dialects and accents of Modern English by continent Europe United Kingdom England Varieties by common name Barrovian Black Country Brummie Bristolian Cheshire Cockney `` Mockney '' Cornish Cumbrian East Anglian East Midlands Essex Estuary Geordie Kentish Lancastrian Mackem Mancunian Multicultural London Norfolk Northern Pitmatic Potteries Received Pronunciation Scouse Southern Suffolk Sussex West Country `` Mummerset '' West Midlands Yorkshire Varieties by geographic location East of England Essex Norfolk Suffolk East Midlands North Cheshire Cumbria Barrow Lancashire Manchester Merseyside Northumbria Sunderland Tyneside Pitmatic Yorkshire South Kent London Cockney Multicultural London Sussex Thames Estuary West Country Bristol Cornwall Dorset West Midlands Black Country Birmingham Stoke - on - Trent Northern Ireland Mid Ulster Scotland Glasgow Highlands Wales Abercraf Cardiff Gower Port Talbot Ireland Dublin D4 South - West Cork Supraregional Ulster Channel Islands Alderney Guernsey Jersey Elsewhere Gibraltar Isle of Man Malta North and South America United States Varieties by common name African American Vernacular Appalachian Boston Cajun California Chicago ; Detroit ; Great Lakes Chicano Indian ; Native American Mid-Atlantic Philadelphia ; South Jersey Baltimorese General American High Tider Maine Miami Midland Midwestern New England New Mexican New York Old Southern Pacific Northwest Pennsylvania Dutch Pittsburghese Rhode Island Southern Texan Upper Midwestern Western Vermont Yat Yeshivish Yooper Varieties by geographic location Delaware Valley ; Mid-Atlantic Pennsylvania Dutch Philadelphia ; South Jersey Baltimore Midland Midwest Great Lakes ; Inland North Upper Midwest Upper Peninsula of Michigan New England Boston Maine Rhode Island Vermont New York City ; Northeastern New Jersey New York Latino North South Acadiana Appalachia Chesapeake ; Pamlico Miami New Orleans Tangier Texas West California New Mexico Pacific Northwest Western Pennsylvania Canada Aboriginal Atlantic Cape Breton Newfoundland Lunenburg Standard Ottawa Valley Pacific Northwest Quebec Caribbean Bahamas Barbados Dominican Republic Jamaica Puerto Rico Trinidad Elsewhere Bermuda Falkland Islands Guyana Oceania Australia Aboriginal Broad ; Strine General South Australian Torres Strait West Australian Elsewhere Fiji New Zealand Palau Solomon Islands Other continents Africa Cameroon Ghana Kenya Liberia Malawi Namibia Nigeria Sierra Leone South Africa White Cultivated General Broad Cape Flats Black Indian Uganda Asia Bangladesh Brunei Burma or Myanmar Hong Kong India Malaysia Nepal Pakistan Philippines Singapore Sri Lanka English - speaking world Click on a coloured area to see an article about English in that country or region Further links Articles English - speaking world History of the English language British Empire English in the Commonwealth of Nations Anglosphere Lists List of countries by English - speaking population List of countries where English is an official language Countries and territories where English is the national language or the native language of the majority Africa Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Americas Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda The Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands Dominica Falkland Islands Grenada Guyana Jamaica Montserrat Saba Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands United States United States Virgin Islands Europe Guernsey Ireland Isle of Man Jersey United Kingdom Oceania Australia New Zealand Norfolk Island Pitcairn Islands Countries and territories where English is an official language, but not the majority first language Africa Botswana Cameroon The Gambia Ghana Kenya Lesotho Liberia Malawi Mauritius Namibia Nigeria Rwanda Sierra Leone Somaliland South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Americas Puerto Rico Asia Christmas Island Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands Hong Kong Special Administrative Region India Pakistan Philippines Singapore Europe Gibraltar Akrotiri and Dhekelia Malta Oceania American Samoa Cook Islands Fiji Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru Niue Northern Mariana Islands Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tokelau Tuvalu Vanuatu Dependencies shown in italics. GND : 4063590 - 9 NARA : 10044948 VIAF : 124830565 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Virgin_Islands&oldid=849219566 '' Categories : British Virgin Islands Dependent territories in the Caribbean British Overseas Territories Virgin Islands British Leeward Islands British West Indies Countries in the Caribbean English - speaking countries and territories Former Dutch colonies Member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Small Island Developing States Special territories of the European Union States and territories established in 1672 1672 establishments in the British Empire 1672 establishments in North America 1670s establishments in the Caribbean British Leeward Islands in World War II Hidden categories : Pages containing links to subscription - only content Webarchive template wayback links Webarchive template archiveis links EngvarB from July 2014 Use dmy dates from March 2013 Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing Latin - language text Articles tagged for attention after Brexit Articles with Curlie links Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with NARA identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Afrikaans Alemannisch አማርኛ Ænglisc Aragonés Arpetan Asturianu Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Башҡортса Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Bikol Central Български Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch ދިވެހިބަސް Dolnoserbski Eesti Ελληνικά Эрзянь Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Fiji Hindi Français Gaeilge Gagauz Galego 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Ido বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית Basa Jawa ქართული Қазақша Kernowek Kinyarwanda Kiswahili Kreyòl ayisyen Kurdî Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Ligure Limburgs Magyar Македонски मराठी Bahasa Melayu Mìng - dĕ̤ng - ngṳ̄ Nederlands 日本 語 Нохчийн Nordfriisk Norfuk / Pitkern Norsk Norsk nynorsk Novial Occitan ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Papiamentu Patois Plattdüütsch Polski Português Română Русский Scots Shqip Sicilianu Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Basa Sunda Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் ไทย Türkçe Українська اردو ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche Tiếng Việt Winaray Wolof ייִדיש Yorùbá 粵語 中文 103 more Edit links This page was last edited on 7 July 2018, at 11 : 39 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who does the british virgin islands belong to
Answer: Elizabeth II