The chief town and port is Road Town on Tortola, the largest island. The variety of scenic physical features includes steep hills, lagoons with coral reefs, and landlocked harbors. The majority of the population is of black African descent. About 80 percent of the total population lives on Tortola. The official language is English.
Tourism is the economic mainstay.
Cottage industries produce handmade items. Manufactured goods are rum, paint, and building materials. Fishing is a growing export industry. Agriculture focuses on livestock, though some tropical fruits and vegetables are exported. A colony of the United Kingdom with a representative government, the islands are administered under a constitution dating from 1977.