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Central America :: Anguilla

Page last updated on December 15, 2020

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Introduction :: Anguilla
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.
Geography :: Anguilla
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

18 15 N, 63 10 W

Central America and the Caribbean

total: 91 sq km

land: 91 sq km

water: 0 sq km

country comparison to the world: 226

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

0 km

61 km

territorial sea: 3 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Crocus Hill 73 m

salt, fish, lobster

agricultural land: 0% (2016 est.)

arable land: 0% (2016 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2016 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2016 est.)

forest: 61.1% (2016 est.)

other: 38.9% (2016 est.)

0 sq km (2012)

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

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system

the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
People and Society :: Anguilla
18,090 (July 2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 219

noun: Anguillan(s)

adjective: Anguillan

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

English (official)

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.)

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% (male 874/female 895) (2020 est.)

population pyramid:

The World Factbook Field Image Modal

Central America :: Anguilla Print

Image Description

This is the population pyramid for Anguilla. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

total: 35.7 years

male: 33.7 years

female: 37.6 years (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

1.86% (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

12.2 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 203

11.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

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

urban population: 100% of total population (2020)

rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

1,000 THE VALLEY (capital) (2018)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

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

25-54 years: 0.81 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female

total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 202

total population: 81.8 years

male: 79.2 years

female: 84.5 years (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

1.74 children born/woman (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 160

improved: urban: 97.5% of population

total: 97.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population

total: 2.5% of population (2017 est.)

improved: urban: 99.1% of population

total: 99.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population

total: 0.9% of population (2017 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA
Government :: Anguilla
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

overseas territory of the UK

parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

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

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

history: several previous; latest 1 April 1982

amendments: amended 1990

common law based on the English model

see United Kingdom

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Tim FOY (since August 2017)

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

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 - NA

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

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]

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU

none (overseas territory of the UK)

telephone: [1] (246) 227-4000

embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000

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

dolphin

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)
Economy :: Anguilla
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.

-8.5% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 220

1.3% (2017 est.)

-0.6% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

$175.4 million (2009 est.)

$191.7 million (2008 est.)

$108.9 million (2004 est.)

$175.4 million (2009 est.)

$12,200 (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

agriculture: 3% (2017 est.)

industry: 10.5% (2017 est.)

services: 86.4% (2017 est.)

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.)

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

4% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 75

6,049 (2001)

country comparison to the world: 218

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.)

8% (2002)

country comparison to the world: 124

23% (2002 est.)

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

revenues: 81.92 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 80.32 million (2017 est.)

46.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

20.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

1 April - 31 March

-$23.2 million (2017 est.)

-$25.3 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

$7.9 million (2017 est.)

$3.9 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 216

lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

$186.2 million (2017 est.)

$170.1 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 211

fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

$76.38 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$48.14 million (31 December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 183

$41.04 million (31 December 2013)

$8.8 million (1998)

country comparison to the world: 195

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.)
Communications :: Anguilla
total subscriptions: 7,461

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42.02 (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 196

total subscriptions: 32,332

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182.09 (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 209

general assessment: modern internal telephone system with fiber-optic trunk lines; telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; numerous competitors licensed, but small and localized; major growth sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments (2020)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 42 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 182 per 100 persons (2019)

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 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned

.ai

total: 14,211

percent of population: 81.57% (July 2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 213
Transportation :: Anguilla
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4

VP-A (2016)

1 (2020)

country comparison to the world: 210

total: 1 (2020)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

total: 175 km (2004)

paved: 82 km (2004)

unpaved: 93 km (2004)

country comparison to the world: 209

total: 2

by type: other 2 (2019)

country comparison to the world: 172

major seaport(s): Blowing Point, Road Bay
Military and Security :: Anguilla
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues :: Anguilla
none

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe