This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically over the next 50 years.

Topic: Afghanistan4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Albania1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Algeria2.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: American Samoa2.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Andorra1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Angola5.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Anguilla1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Argentina2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Armenia1.65 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Aruba1.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Australia1.73 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Austria1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bahrain1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bangladesh2.09 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Barbados1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Belarus1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Belgium1.77 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Belize2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Benin5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bermuda1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bhutan1.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bolivia2.33 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Botswana2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Brazil1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: British Virgin Islands1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Brunei1.74 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bulgaria1.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso4.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Burma2.02 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Burundi5.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde2.13 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cambodia2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cameroon4.55 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Canada1.57 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cayman Islands1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Central African Republic4.04 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Chad5.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Chile1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: China1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Christmas IslandNA

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Colombia1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Comoros2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the5.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the4.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cook Islands2.07 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Costa Rica1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire3.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Croatia1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cuba1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Curacao1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cyprus1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Czechia1.49 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Denmark1.77 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Djibouti2.15 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Dominica2.02 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic2.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ecuador2.04 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Egypt2.88 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: El Salvador2.05 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea4.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Eritrea3.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Estonia1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Eswatini2.44 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia3.99 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: European Union(2021 est.) 1.62 children born/woman

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA

Topic: Faroe Islands2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Fiji2.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Finland1.74 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: France2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: French Polynesia1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gabon3.31 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The3.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gaza Strip3.44 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Georgia1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Germany1.57 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ghana3.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gibraltar1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Greece1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Greenland1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Grenada1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guam2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guatemala2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guernsey1.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guinea4.85 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau4.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guyana2.06 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Haiti2.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Honduras2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Hong Kong1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Hungary1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Iceland1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: India2.1 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Indonesia2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Iran1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Iraq3.25 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ireland1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Isle of Man1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Israel2.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Italy1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Jamaica2.06 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Japan1.38 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Jersey1.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Jordan2.96 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kazakhstan2.11 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kenya3.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kiribati2.2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Korea, North1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Korea, South1.1 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kosovo1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kuwait2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan2.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Laos2.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Latvia1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Lebanon1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Lesotho2.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Liberia4.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Libya3.09 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Liechtenstein1.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Lithuania1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Macau1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Madagascar3.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Malawi3.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Malaysia1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Maldives1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mali5.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Malta1.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Marshall Islands2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mauritania3.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mauritius1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mexico1.68 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Moldova1.59 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Monaco1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mongolia1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Montenegro1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Montserrat1.32 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Morocco2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Topic: Mozambique4.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Namibia2.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nauru2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nepal1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Netherlands1.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: New Caledonia1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: New Zealand1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nicaragua1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Niger6.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nigeria4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Niue(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Norfolk IslandNA

Topic: North Macedonia1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Northern Mariana Islands2.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Norway1.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Oman2.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Pakistan3.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Palau1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Panama2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Papua New Guinea3.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Paraguay1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Peru2.2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Philippines2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA

Topic: Poland1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Portugal1.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Puerto Rico1.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Qatar1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Romania1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Russia1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Rwanda3.33 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Barthelemy1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Lucia1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Martin1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon1.59 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Samoa2.42 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: San Marino1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe3.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saudi Arabia1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Senegal4.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Serbia1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Seychelles1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone3.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Singapore1.16 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sint Maarten1.99 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Slovakia1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Slovenia1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands2.87 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Somalia5.31 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: South Africa2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: South Sudan5.32 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Spain1.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sudan4.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Suriname1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Svalbard(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Sweden1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Switzerland1.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Syria2.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Taiwan1.08 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan2.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tanzania4.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Thailand1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste4.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Togo4.23 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tokelau(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Tonga2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tunisia2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Turkey1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tuvalu2.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Uganda5.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ukraine1.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: United States1.84 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Uruguay1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan1.73 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Vanuatu2.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Venezuela2.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Vietnam2.05 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Virgin Islands2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Wallis and Futuna1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: West Bank2.96 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: World2.42 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Topic: Yemen3.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Zambia4.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe3.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)


Topic: Photos of Liechtenstein

Topic: Introduction
Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the German Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 160 sq km

land: 160 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 75 km

border countries (2): Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation: highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.1% (2018 est.)

other: 19.3% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides
Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Map description: Liechtenstein map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria.Liechtenstein map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 39,711 (2022 est.)

note: immigrants make up 67% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s)

adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Liechtensteiner 65.5%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 6%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2020 est.)

note: data represent population by nationality
Languages: German 91.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%,  Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant .7%, other Christian .3%, other .8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 3,259/female 2,688)

15-24 years: 11.29% (male 2,238/female 2,181)

25-54 years: 40.22% (male 7,869/female 7,872)

55-64 years: 14.41% (male 2,711/female 2,930)

65 years and over: 18.88% (2020 est.) (male 3,403/female 3,986)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 43.7 years

male: 42 years

female: 45.3 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.72% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River
Urbanization: urban population: 14.5% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.25 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.24 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.3 years (2017)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.41 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.56 years

male: 80.33 years

female: 85.38 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Literacy: total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years

male: 16 years

female: 14 years (2019)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: some air pollution generated locally, some transfered from surrounding countries
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Land use: agricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.1% (2018 est.)

other: 19.3% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 14.5% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,382 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,919 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 7.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein

conventional short form: Liechtenstein

local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

local short form: Liechtenstein

etymology: named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone"
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Vaduz

geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: may be a conflation from the Latin "vallis" (valley) and the High German "diutisk" (meaning "German") to produce "Valdutsch" (German valley), which over time simplified and came to refer specifically to Vaduz, the town
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)
National holiday: National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990
Constitution: history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921

amendments: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended many times, last in 2020
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); note - 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS-ADAM II retains status of chief of state

head of government: Prime Minister Daniel RISCH; Deputy Prime Minister Sabine MONAUNI (both since 25 March 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Parliament usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in 2 multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 7 February 2021 (next to be held on 7 February 2025)

election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 40%, VU 40%, FL 12%, DpL 8%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 10, FL 3, DpL 2; composition - men 18, women 7, percent of women 28%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgericht (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates)

judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Obergericht (second instance), Court of Justice (first instance), Administrative Court, county courts
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Guenther FRITZ]
Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Thomas BANZER]
The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Pepo FRICK and Conny BUECHEL BRUEHWILER]
Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL [Thomas REHAK]
The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU [Harry QUADERER]
International organization participation: CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021)

chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590

FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

email address and website:
info@embassyli.org

https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
National symbol(s): princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red
National anthem: name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)

lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT

note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the Queen"

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues.   The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.   Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents.Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.978 billion (2014 est.)

$3.2 billion (2009 est.)

$3.216 billion (2008 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: 1.8% (2012 est.)

-0.5% (2011 est.)

3.1% (2007 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $139,100 (2009 est.)

$90,100 (2008 est.)

$91,300 (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.672 billion (2014 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.4% (2016 est.)

-0.2% (2013)
Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1996)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7% (2014)

industry: 41% (2014)

services: 52% (2014)
Agricultural products: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 38,520 (2015 est.) (2012)

note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.8%

industry: 36.9%

services: 62.3% (2015)
Unemployment rate: 2.4% (2015)

2.4% (2014)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 995.3 million (2012 est.)

expenditures: 890.4 million (2011 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.9% (of GDP) (2012 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports: $3.217 billion (2015 est.)

$3.774 billion (2014 est.)

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
Exports - commodities: small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Imports: $2.23 billion (2014 est.)

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
Imports - commodities: agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external: $0 (2015 est.)

note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable
Exchange rates: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -

0.9875 (2017 est.)

0.9852 (2016 est.)

0.9852 (2015 est.)

0.9627 (2014 est.)

0.9152 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 12,607 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 48,887 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: automatic telephone system; 44 Internet service providers in Liechtenstein and Switzerland combined; FttP (fiber to the home) penetration marketed 3rd highest in EU; fiber network reaches 3/4 of the population (2020)

domestic: fixed-line roughly 33 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 128 per 100 (2020)

international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station in Liechtenstein
Internet country code: .li
Internet users: total: 37,260 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 98% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18,050 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB
Pipelines: 434.5 km gas (2018)
Railways: total: 9 km (2018)

standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland
Roadways: total: 630 km (2019)
Waterways: 28 km (2010)
Merchant marine: total: 20

by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Switzerland) (2021)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the National Police is responsible for all matters relating to the safety and security of Liechtenstein

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone
Illicit drugs: has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Malaysia. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: [60] (3) 2168-5000; US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; KLACS@state.gov;

https://my.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 60
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 999; Fire: 994; Police: 999
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Currency (Code): Ringgits (MYR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G

Major Languages: Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note: Malaysia has 134 living languages
Major Religions: Muslim 61.3%, Buddhist 19.8%, Christian 9.2%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 1.3%
Time Difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Kuala Lumpur (includes Petronas Towers, Bukit Bintang, National Museum); North Borneo Railway; Semenggoh Nature Reserve; Batu Caves; Kek Lok Si Temple; Malacca City; Manukan Island; Lenggong Valley; Sarawak Cultural Village
Major Sports: Soccer, badminton, tenpin bowling, field hockey, tennis
Cultural Practices: Nod or give a slight bow when greeting a women or an older person. Introduce high-ranking people and older people first.
Tipping Guidelines: Malaysia has a non-tipping culture. You are welcome to leave change in a tip jar, but you are not expected to tip.
Souvenirs: Hand-woven embroidered silk/cotton cloth, batik sarongs, pewter items; precious silver bowls, jewelry boxes, and betel nut sets; woven-bamboo and various fiber-woven baskets, bowls, and mats
Traditional Cuisine: Nasi Lemak — rice soaked in coconut cream overnight and cooked with pandan leaves, lemon grass, ginger, and other spices; usually served with a hard-boiled egg, fried anchovies, sambal paste, and roasted peanutsPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Ireland due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. Passport must remain valid the entire length of the stay. A visa is not required.
US Embassy/Consulate: [353] (1) 668-8777; US Embassy in Dublin, 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland; ACSDublin@state.gov;

https://ie.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 353
Local Emergency Phone: 112, 999
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Currency (Code): Euros (EUR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G

Major Languages: English (the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge)
Major Religions: Roman Catholic 78.3%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Orthodox 1.3%, Muslim 1.3%
Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October
Potable Water: Yes
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Cliffs of Moher; Dublin (includes Dublin Castle, Trinity College & Book of Kells, Grafton Street, Kilmainham Gaol); Killarney National Park & Muckross House & Gardens; Ring of Kerry; Kilkenny Castle; Blarney Castle; Bru na Boinne; Powerscourt Estate
Major Sports: Soccer, golf, rugby
Cultural Practices: Hands should remain visible while eating; try to not let your elbows rest on the table.
Tipping Guidelines: In restaurants, tip 10-15% of the bill if no service charge is included. Leave 1-2 euros at bars. Taxi drivers do not expect tips and many drivers often round down the bill, especially on longer fares, but you may round up the fare. Tip bellhops 1-2 euros per bag and leave housekeeping 1-2 euros per night.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022


Topic: Photos of British Virgin Islands

Topic: Introduction
Background: First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 151 sq km

land: 151 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation: highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 24.3% (2018 est.)

other: 29% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Map description: British Virgin Islands map showing the many islands that make up this UK territory in the Caribbean Sea.British Virgin Islands map showing the many islands that make up this UK territory in the Caribbean Sea.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 38,632 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s)

adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.48% (male 3,088/female 3,156)

15-24 years: 12.22% (male 2,212/female 2,418)

25-54 years: 47.84% (male 8,476/female 9,652)

55-64 years: 12.83% (male 2,242/female 2,521)

65 years and over: 10.63% (2021 est.) (male 1,921/female 2,105)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 37.2 years

male: 37 years

female: 37.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 13.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Urbanization: urban population: 49.3% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 14.16 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.67 years

male: 78.17 years

female: 81.25 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: total: 99.9% of population

unimproved: total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 97.5% of population

total: 97.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 2.5% of population

total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2018)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from desalination plants; sewage and mining/industry waste contribute to water pollution, threatening coral reefs
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.21 megatons (2016 est.)
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 24.3% (2018 est.)

other: 29% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 49.3% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 21,099 tons (2000 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: British Virgin Islands

abbreviation: BVI

etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Capital: name: Road Town

geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 64 37 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where where ships can lie reasonably safely at anchor sheltered from rip currents, spring tides, or ocean swells
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)

amendments: initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch; amended 2015
Legal system: English common law
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor John J. RANKIN (since 29 January 2021)

head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

note - on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE removed by a no confidence vote in House of Assembly following his arrest on drug trafficking and money laundering charges on 28 April 2022; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (15 seats; 13 members - 9 in single-seat constituencies and 4 at-large seats directly elected by simple majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and the speaker - chosen from outside the House; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 25 February 2019 (next to be held in 2023)

election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 46.5%, NDP 28.2%, PVIM 17.4%, PU 8%; seats by party - VIP 8, NDP 3, PVIM 1, PU 1; composition as of March 2022 - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7%
Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 3 in the British Virgin Islands

judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party or NDP [Marlon PENN]
Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM [Ronnie SKELTON]
Progressives United or PU [Julian FRASER]
Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Natalio WHEATLEY]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint; the other lamps symbolize her followers
National symbol(s): zenaida dove, white cedar flower; national colors: yellow, green, red, white, blue
National anthem: note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.   Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements.   In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $500 million (2017 est.)

$490.2 million (2016 est.)

$481.1 million (2015 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.)

1.9% (2016 est.)

1.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $34,200 (2017 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.028 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2017 est.)

1.1% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.)

industry: 6.8% (2017 est.)

services: 93.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 25.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 7.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 20.4% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 94.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -69.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center
Industrial production growth rate: 1.1% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.6%

industry: 40%

services: 59.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate: 2.9% (2015 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 400 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 400 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: $362.6 million (2011 est.)

$279.8 million (2010 est.)
Exports: $23 million (2017 est.)

$23 million (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: Malta 30%, Seychelles 29%, Switzerland 14% (2019)
Exports - commodities: recreational boats, aircraft, diamonds, paintings, precious stones (2019)
Imports: $300 million (2017 est.) NA

$210 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 32%, United States 22%, Italy 9%, France 7%, Seychelles 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: recreational boats, aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, furniture (2019)
Debt - external: $36.1 million (1997)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 33,000 kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 116.298 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 22.5 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 98.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,227 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 173,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 173,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 80.136 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,163 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel; the company filed for bankruptcy in the US in April 2020; it continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt; the other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue; CWC is expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. (2021)

domestic: fixed-line connections exceed 24 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 116 per 100 persons (2020)

international: country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half-dozen private radio stations
Internet country code: .vg
Internet users: total: 23,585 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 78% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 6,738 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-L
Airports: total: 4 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)
Roadways: total: 200 km (2007)

paved: 200 km (2007)
Merchant marine: total: 30

by type: general cargo 3, other 27 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Road Harbor

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering


Answers to many frequently asked questions are explained in the Definitions and Notes section in The World Factbook. Please review this section to see if your question is already answered there. In addition, we have compiled the following list of FAQs to answer other common questions.

Topic: GeneralThe staff cannot provide data beyond what appears in The World Factbook. The format and information in the Factbook are tailored to the specific requirements of US Government officials and content is focused on their current and anticipated needs. The staff welcomes suggestions for new entries.Formerly the website and the published Factbook were only updated annually. In November 2001, the Factbook began more frequent online updating and for many years bi-weekly updates were the norm. In late 2010, online updating on weekly basis began and that schedule continues today.The CIA discontinued publishing the printed Factbook after the 2007 edition; subsequent annual editions were published by the US Government Printing Office through the 2016-17 edition. Although no longer produced in hardcopy, annual online editions of The World Factbook are accessible on the Factbook website and may be downloaded in whole or in part.The World Factbook is in the public domain and may be used freely by anyone at anytime without seeking permission. However, US Code (Section 403m) prohibits use of the CIA seal in a manner which implies that the CIA approved, endorsed, or authorized such use. For any questions about your intended use, you should consult with legal counsel. Further information on use of The World Factbook is described on the Contributors and Copyright Information page. As a courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used.Although estimates and projections start with the same basic data from censuses, surveys, and registration systems, final estimates and projections can differ as a result of factors including data availability, assessment, and methods and protocols.Data availability  Researchers may obtain specific country data at different times. Estimates or projections developed before the results of a census have been released will not be as accurate as those that take into account new census results.Assessment  Researchers can differ in their assessment of data quality and in their estimates based on the available country data. They often need to adjust their estimates due to such factors as undercounting in a census or underregistration of births or deaths.Methods and protocols  Differences in methods and protocols can shape the way estimates and projections are made of fertility, mortality, and international migration, and how these data are integrated with the population data. For example, the US Census Bureau uses a model that projects the population ahead by single years of age, a single year at a time (population statistics used in the Factbook  are based on this model), whereas the United Nations model projects five-year age groups forward, five years at a time.World Factbook data may be based on different dates of information. In the above example, the GDP – per capita numbers are for past years where each year’s GDP is the population number divided by the relevant year. The population numbers shown in the People category are estimates for the current year and should not be used to calculate per capita income for earlier years.The World Factbook provides national-level information on countries, territories, and dependencies, but not subnational administrative units within a country. A comprehensive encyclopedia might be a source for state/province-level information.The World Factbook does not partner with other organizations or individuals, but we do welcome comments and suggestions that such groups or persons choose to provide.Previous editions of the Factbook, beginning with 2000, are available for downloading – but not browsing – on the CIA website. Rehosted versions of earlier editions of the Factbook  are available for browsing, as well as for downloading, at other Internet web sites. We urge caution, however, in attempting to create time series by stringing together economic data – especially dollar values – from previous editions of the Factbook. Over time, data sources, definitions, and economic accounting methods have changed. We occasionally have made these changes ourselves in order to provide our readers with the best information available. Also, in the case of dollar values, changes in relative exchange rates and prices may make trends difficult to comprehend. Therefore, individuals should consult additional resources when doing comparative research or trend analysis

Topic: GeographyThe World Factbook is not a gazetteer (a dictionary or index of places, usually with descriptive or statistical information) and cannot provide more than the names of the administrative divisions (in the Government category) and major cities/towns (on the country maps). Our expanded Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names (Appendix F), however, includes many of the world’s major geographic features as well as historic (former) names of countries and cities mentioned in The World Factbook.The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many nation-like attributes and these may be expanded in the future. It is for these reasons that a separate European Union entry was created. However, because of the EU’s special status, this entry appears after the country listing. A more complete explanation on the inclusion of the EU into the Factbook may be found in the “Preliminary statement” of the European Union entry.Vatican City is found under Holy See. The term “Holy See” refers to the authority and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisors to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. As the jurisdictional equal of a state, the Holy See can enter into treaties and sends and receives diplomatic representatives. Vatican City, created in 1929 to administer properties belonging to the Holy See in Rome, is recognized under international law as a sovereign state, but it does not send or receive diplomatic representatives. Consequently, Holy See is included as a Factbook entry, with Vatican City cross-referenced in the Geographic Names appendix.The Palestinian areas of Gaza Strip and West Bank are listed in the Factbook.The World Factbook provides information on the administrative divisions of a country as recommended by the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is a component of the US Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names – domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features.Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands). Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries are not covered.A doubly landlocked country is one that is separated from an ocean or an ocean-accessible sea by two intervening countries. Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only countries that fit this definition.It all depends on whether one is looking at total area (land and water) when making the comparison (which is the criterion used by the Factbook) or just land area (which excludes inland water features such as rivers and lakes).Total area (combining land and water)United States = 9,826,630 sq km, China = 9,596,960 sq kmLand only (without any water features)United States = 9,161,923 sq km, China = 9,326,410 sq kmThe five entities are no longer in The World Factbook  because their status has changed. While they are overseas departments of France, they are also now recognized as French regions, having equal status to the 22 metropolitan regions that make up European France. In other words, they are now recognized as being part of France proper. Their status is somewhat analogous to Alaska and Hawaii vis-à-vis the contiguous United States. Although separated from the larger geographic entity, they are still considered to be an integral part of it.

Topic: PhotosInclusion of photos in The World Factbook is a long-term project, and we plan to continuously add more photos to the site over time. Eventually, we hope to have images for every country in the Factbook.We appreciate the many offers from the public to contribute to our photo collection. However, we only use photos from US Government sources.Yes! All photos in The World Factbook are in the public domain.

Topic: Policies and ProceduresThe Factbook staff uses many different sources to publish what we judge are the most reliable and consistent data for any particular category. Space considerations preclude a listing of these various sources.The Factbook staff follows the guidance of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names – domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features. The position of the BGN is that the names Burma and Sea of Japan be used in official US Government maps and publications.US Federal agencies are required by the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-168) and by Executive Order 12770 of July 1991 to use the International System of Units, commonly referred to as the metric system or SI. In addition, the metric system is used by over 95% of the world’s population.The Factbook staff judges that this information would only be useful for some (generally smaller) countries. Larger countries can have large temperature extremes that do not represent the landmass as a whole.Flag designs used in The World Factbook are based on various national and vexillological sources.We have two sets of GDP dollar estimates in The World Factbook , one derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations and the other derived from official exchange rates (OER). Other sources probably use one of the two. See the Definitions and Notes section on GDP and GDP methodology for more information.Although Chiefs of State and The World Factbook both appear on the CIA Web site, they are produced and updated on different weekly schedules. Chiefs of State includes fewer countries but more leaders, whereas The World Factbook has a much larger database and includes all countries.Because of rounding, percentage distributions do not always add precisely to 100%. Rounding of numbers always results in a loss of precision – i.e., error. This error becomes apparent when percentage data are totaled, as the following two examples show:When this occurs, we do not force the numbers to add exactly to 100, because doing so would introduce additional error into the distribution.In deciding on the number of digits to present, the Factbook staff assesses the accuracy of the original data and the needs of US Government officials. All of the economic data are processed by computer – either at the source or by the Factbook staff. The economic data presented in The Factbook, therefore, follow the rounding convention used by virtually all numerical software applications, namely, any digit followed by a “5” is rounded up to the next higher digit, no matter whether the original digit is even or odd. Thus, for example, when rounded to the nearest integer, 2.5 becomes 3, rather than 2, as occurred in some pre-computer rounding systems.For most countries, this entry presents the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For other countries, the date may be some other significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession and so may not strictly be an “Independence” date. Dependent entities have the nature of their dependency status noted in this same entry.

Topic: Spelling and PronunciationThe Factbook staff applies the names and spellings from the World Leaders link on the CIA Web site. The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings. Surnames are always spelled with capital letters; they may appear first in some cultures.The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) recommends and approves names and spellings. The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names – domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to use uniform names of geographic features. (A note is usually included where changes may have occurred but have not yet been approved by the BGN). The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings.There are too many variations in pronunciation among English-speaking countries, not to mention English renditions of non-English names, for pronunciations to be included. American English pronunciations are included for some countries such as Qatar and Kiribati.

Topic: TechnicalThe World Factbook home page has a link entitled “Text/Low Bandwidth Version.” The country data in the text version is fully accessible. We believe The World Factbook is compliant with the Section 508 law. If you are experiencing difficulty, please use our comment form to provide us details of the specific problem you are experiencing and the assistive software and/or hardware you are using so that we can work with our technical staff to find and implement a solution. We welcome visitors’ suggestions to improve accessibility of The World Factbook and the CIA website.Hundreds of “Factbook” look-alikes exist on the Internet. You can access The World Factbook at: cia.gov, which is the only official site.Some of the files on The World Factbook website are large and could take several minutes to download on a dial-up connection. The screen might be blank during the download process.Adjusting the resolution setting on your monitor should correct this problem.The Factbook website features Country Comparison pages for selected Factbook entries. All of the Country Comparison pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited data files that can be opened in other applications such as spreadsheets and databases.


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in South Korea. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: [82] (2) 397-4114; US Embassy Seoul, 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea; seoulinfoACS@state.gov;

https://kr.usembassy.gov/
03141
Telephone Code: 82
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 119; Fire: 119; Police: 112
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
Currency (Code): South Korean won (KRW)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): F

Major Languages: Korean, English
Major Religions: Protestant 19.7%, Buddhist 15.5%, Catholic 7.9%, none 56.9%; note: many people also practice some Confucian practices
Time Difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Gamcheon Culture Village; Jeonju Hanok Village; Bridge of No Return; Hwaseong Fortress; Ganghwa Peace Observatory; Jindo Sea Parting; Seoraksan National Park; Seokguram Grotto & Bulguksa Temple; Jongmyo Shrine; Boryeong Mud Festival
Major Sports: Taekwondo, soccer, baseball
Cultural Practices: It is regarded as rude to point with your fingers. Better to gesture with your arm or hand. Casual physical contact, such as back slapping, is considered rude.
Tipping Guidelines: South Korea has a no-tip culture. Staff in restaurants and hotels, as well as taxi drivers, porters, and bellhops do not expect tips. Telling the taxi driver "keep the change" is appreciated. Most hotels add a compulsory 10% service charge to the bill.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Monday, April 25, 2022


Topic: Photos of Navassa Island

Topic: Introduction
Background: This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the US Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a "unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity." The following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 30 nm west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 5 sq km

land: 5.4 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 8 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: marine, tropical
Terrain: raised flat to undulating coral and limestone plateau; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
Elevation: highest point: 200 m NNW of lighthouse 85 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: guano (mining discontinued in 1898)
Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes
Geography - note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes (limestone sinkholes) but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus
Map description: Navassa Island map shows some features on this island in the Caribbean Sea.Navassa Island map shows some features on this island in the Caribbean Sea.

Topic: People and Society
Population: uninhabited; transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA

15-24 years: NA

25-54 years: NA

55-64 years: NA

65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: some coral bleaching
Climate: marine, tropical
Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Navassa Island

etymology: the flat island was named "Navaza" by some of Christopher COLUMBUS' sailors in 1504; the name derives from the Spanish term "nava" meaning "flat land, plain, or field"
Dependency status: unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of the Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; Haiti has claimed the island since the 19th century
Legal system: the laws of the US apply where applicable
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: the flag of the US is used

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters.

Topic: Transportation
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Navassa Island (US)-Haiti: claimed by Haiti and is in Haiti’s constitution; the waters around Navassa island are a source of subsistence for Haitian fishermenNavassa Island (US)-Haiti: claimed by Haiti and is in Haiti’s constitution; the waters around Navassa island are a source of subsistence for Haitian fishermen