(Dependent territory of the UK)

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Anguilla, the most northerly of the Leeward Islands, is located at latitude 18°N and longitude 63°W. It is bounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and is 16 miles long and three miles across at its widest point.

Anguilla is a British Dependent Territory with a two-party, Parliamentary system of government. The island is governed by an Executive Council, which is comprised of the Governor (who is appointed by The Queen), the Deputy Governor, the Chief minister, three other elected Ministers, the Attorney General and Secretary to the Executive Council.

The island enjoys low humidity, refreshing trade winds and a mean monthly temperature of 80° F. The island is low-lying and ringed with twelve miles of spectacular, white sand, coral beaches, which make up thirty-three beaches and coves. Surrounding the island is a reef system and seven islets and cays, which is excellent for diving and snorkeling. The waters are clear and range in color from blue to aquamarine.

Historians believe that Anguilla was given the name, Anguillé, which means eel, in 1565 by the French explorer, Pierre Laudonnaire. The British first occupied Anguilla in 1650. The present population of approximately 8,500 are descendants of West Africans and Europeans. Many of the family names on the island are of English, Welsh and Irish origin.

The island is rich in pre-Columbian history. Archaeologists believe there was a large population of peace-loving Arawak indians living on Anguilla when the Europeans first arrived. The Arawaks called the island Malliouhana.

Anguilla is a marine-oriented island. The principal industries have been fishing and tourism. The island's official offical sport is also associated with the sea and is simply called,"Boat Races". This sport is usually enjoyed on public holidays, with the high point of the year during the first week in August when Anguilla has three public holidays and celebrates Carnival.

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 91 sq km
land area: 91 sq km
comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 61 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Natural resources: negligible; salt, fish, lobster

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
international agreements: NA

People

Population: 7,099 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (female 1,129; male 1,115)
15-64 years: 60% (female 2,101; male 2,126)
65 years and over: 8% (female 362; male 266) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.66% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 24.09 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.1 years
male: 71.32 years
female: 76.91 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.05 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan

Ethnic divisions: black African

Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%

Languages: English (official)

Literacy: age 12 and over can read and write (1984)
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95%

Labor force: 4,400 (1992)
by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%

Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla

Digraph: AV

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: The Valley

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May

Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Orders 1 April 1982; amended 1990

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan W. SHAVE (since 14 August 1992)
head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994)
cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor from the elected members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 16 March 1994 (next to be held March 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA); Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS

Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau)

Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)

US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and light blue with three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design centered in the white band; a new flag may have been in use since 30 May 1990

Economy

Overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and remittances from emigrants. In recent years the economy has benefited from a boom in tourism and construction. Development plans center around the improvement of the infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist facilities, and also light industry.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $49 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 7.5% (1992)

National product per capita: $7,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $13.8 million
expenditures: $15.2 million, including capital expenditures of $2.4 million (1992 est.)

Exports: $556,000 (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: lobster and salt
partners: NA

Imports: $33.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: NA
partners: NA

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 2,000 kW
production: 6 million kWh
consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992)

Industries: tourism, boat building, salt

Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry, fishing (including lobster)

Economic aid:
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $38 million

Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: NA

Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways:
total: 105 km (1992 est.)
paved: 65 km
unpaved: gravel and earth 40 km

Ports: Blowing Point, Road Bay

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2

Communications

Telephone system: 890 telephones; modern internal telephone system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: radio relay microwave link to island of Saint Martin

Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
radios: NA

Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

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