Page last updated on December 17, 2013
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.
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 91 sq km
country comparison to the world: 227
land: 91 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
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 65 m
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2011)
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
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)
Protestant 83.1% (Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%), Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)
15,754 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 1,899/female 1,807)
15-24 years: 14.3% (male 1,116/female 1,138)
25-54 years: 45.2% (male 3,223/female 3,890)
55-64 years: 8.9% (male 703/female 695)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 631/female 652) (2013 est.)
total: 33.9 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 35.4 years (2013 est.)
2.11% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
12.82 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
4.44 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
12.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
THE VALLEY (capital) 2,000 (2011)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 3.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 212
male: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 81.09 years
country comparison to the world: 20
male: 78.51 years
female: 83.74 years (2013 est.)
1.75 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
43%
note: percent of women aged 15-45 (2003)
3.5% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2008)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
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)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
several previous; latest 1 April 1982; amended 1990 (2013)
common law based on the English model
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Christina SCOTT (since 23 July 2013)
head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 February 2010)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 February 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AUM 4, AUF 2, APP 1
highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Anguilla; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; High Court judges reside in 7 member states, though none resides 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 Progressive Party or APP [Brent DAVIS]
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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
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)
Anguilla has few natural resources, 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 tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.
$175.4 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
$175.4 million (2009 est.)
-8.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
$12,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
household consumption: 73%
government consumption: 19.9%
investment in fixed capital: 22.5%
exports of goods and services: 49.3%
imports of goods and services: -64.7%
agriculture: 2.5%
industry: 23.8%
services: 73.7% (2012 est.)
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
-5.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
6,049 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 220
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 4%
manufacturing: 3%
construction: 18%
transportation and utilities: 10%
commerce: 36%
services: 29% (2000 est.)
8% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 89
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $69.52 million
expenditures: $78.37 million (2012 est.)
39.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
-5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
21.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
4.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
9.38% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$15.79 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$383.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$483.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
$-44.8 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$7.3 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
$129.3 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
$8.8 million (1998)
country comparison to the world: 199
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
6,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 207
26,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 209
general assessment: modern internal telephone system
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 170 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (2011)
1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned (2007)
269 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 192
3,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 208
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 197
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 175 km
country comparison to the world: 210
paved: 82 km
unpaved: 93 km (2004)
major seaport(s): Blowing Point, Road Bay
males age 16-49: 3,641 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 3,009
females age 16-49: 3,397 (2010 est.)
male: 111
female: 113 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK
