

Topic: Photos of Anguilla

Topic: Introduction
Background: Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency. On 7 September 2017, the island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Irma, particularly to communications and residential and business infrastructure.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 91 sq km

land: 91 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation: highest point: Crocus Hill 73 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 61.1% (2018 est.)

other: 38.9% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Geography - note: the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
Map description: Anguilla map showing the major island of Anguilla and its nearby small islands that comprise this UK territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.Anguilla map showing the major island of Anguilla and its nearby small islands that comprise this UK territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 18,741 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Anguillan(s)

adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups: African/Black 85.3%, Hispanic 4.9%, mixed 3.8%, White 3.2%, East Indian/Indian 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

note: data represent population by ethnic origin
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Protestant 73.2% (includes Anglican 22.7%, Methodist 19.4%, Pentecostal 10.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Baptist 7.1%, Church of God 4.9%, Presbyterian 0.2%, Brethren 0.1%), Roman Catholic 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 10.9%, other 3.2%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4.5% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.63% (male 1,991/female 1,922)

15-24 years: 13.9% (male 1,269/female 1,246)

25-54 years: 42.27% (male 3,428/female 4,218)

55-64 years: 12.42% (male 993/female 1,254)

65 years and over: 9.78% (2020 est.) (male 874/female 895)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 35.7 years

male: 33.7 years

female: 37.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.8% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 12.01 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,000 THE VALLEY (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.2 years

male: 79.59 years

female: 84.89 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.5% of population

total: 97.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population

total: 2.5% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.1% of population

total: 99.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population

total: 0.9% of population (2017 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: 3.6% of GDP (2018)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 61.1% (2018 est.)

other: 38.9% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Anguilla

etymology: the name Anguilla means "eel" in various Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French) and likely derives from the island's lengthy shape
Government type: parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital: name: The Valley

geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W

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

etymology: name derives from the capital's location between several hills
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest 1 April 1982

amendments: amended 1990, 2012, 2017, 2019
Legal system: common law based on the English model
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 Dileeni DANIEL-SELVARATNAM
(since 18 January 2021)

head of government: Premier Dr. Ellis WEBSTER (since 30 June 2020); note -  starting in 2019, the title of head of government was changed to premier from chief minister of Anguilla

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected 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
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 2 appointed by the governor, and 2 ex officio members - the attorney general and deputy governor; members serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 29 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APM 7, AUF 4; composition - men 8, women 3, percent of women 27.3%
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, travelling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, though none on Anguilla

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: Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court
Political parties and leaders: Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP
Anguilla National Alliance or ANA
Anguilla Progressive Movement or APM [Dr. Ellis WEBSTER]; prior to 2019, it was known as the Anguilla United Movement or AUM
Anguilla United Front or AUF [Victor BANKS] (alliance includes ADP, ANA)
Democracy, Opportunity, Vision, and Empowerment Party or DOVE [Sutcliffe HODGE]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), 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); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with a turquoise-blue field below; the white in the background represents peace; the blue base symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope; the three dolphins stand for endurance, unity, and strength
National symbol(s): dolphin
National anthem: name: "God Bless Anguilla"

lyrics/music: Alex RICHARDSON

note: local anthem adopted 1981; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, is unsuited for agriculture, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry has spurred the growth of the construction sector contributing to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the recovery of the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $175.4 million (2009 est.)

$191.7 million (2008 est.)

$108.9 million (2004 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: -8.5% (2009 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $12,200 (2008 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $175.4 million (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (2017 est.)

-0.6% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3% (2017 est.)

industry: 10.5% (2017 est.)

services: 86.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 74.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 26.8% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 48.2% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -67.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 74.1%

industry: 3%

services: 18%

agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 4% (2000 est.)

manufacturing: 3% (2000 est.)

construction: 18% (2000 est.)

transportation and utilities: 10% (2000 est.)

commerce: 36% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (2002)
Population below poverty line: 23% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 81.92 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 80.32 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 20.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 46.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: -$23.2 million (2017 est.)

-$25.3 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $7.9 million (2017 est.)

$3.9 million (2016 est.)
Exports - commodities: lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Imports: $186.2 million (2017 est.)

$170.1 million (2016 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $76.38 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$48.14 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $41.04 million (31 December 2013)

$8.8 million (1998)
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

2.7 (2017 est.)

2.7 (2016 est.)

2.7 (2015 est.)

2.7 (2014 est.)

2.7 (2013 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 6,000 (2018 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2018 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 26,000 (2018 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182 (2018 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 teledensity is about 42 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 182 per 100 persons (2018)

international: country code - 1-264; landing points for the SSCS, ECFS, GCN and Southern Caribbean Fiber with submarine cable links to Caribbean islands and to the US; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (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 downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments but the contribution to the sector has been insufficient to offset steep falls in other areas of the market
Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned
Internet country code: .ai
Internet users: total: 12,489 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 82% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,000 (2018 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2018 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-A
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 175 km (2004)

paved: 82 km (2004)

unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Merchant marine: total: 2

by type: other 2 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Blowing Point, Road Bay

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

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europetransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe