A variety of coral types beckon to snorkelers in Shoal Bay.
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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.

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

country comparison to the world: 226

Area - comparative

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 0 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

People and Society

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

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. <br/><br/>For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

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.)

country comparison to the world: 81

Birth rate

12.12 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Death rate

4.62 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 205

Net migration rate

10.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

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 (2021)

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: 1.04 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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.11 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 212

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82 years

male: 79.37 years

female: 84.7 years (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

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.)

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.)

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 (2021)

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

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

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 - NA

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 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)

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.)

country comparison to the world: 221

GDP (official exchange rate)

$175.4 million (2009 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

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.)

Budget

revenues: 81.92 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 80.32 million (2017 est.)

Public debt

20.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Current account balance

-$23.2 million (2017 est.)

-$25.3 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

Exports

$7.9 million (2017 est.)

$3.9 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 220

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$186.2 million (2017 est.)

$170.1 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 212

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.)

country comparison to the world: 183

Debt - external

$41.04 million (31 December 2013)

$8.8 million (1998)

country comparison to the world: 195

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.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6,000 (2018)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42.02 (2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 202

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 26,000 (2018)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182.09 (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 210

Telecommunication systems

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 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 users

total: 12,300 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 81.57% (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 216

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2020)

Roadways

total: 175 km (2004)

paved: 82 km (2004)

unpaved: 93 km (2004)

country comparison to the world: 209

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Blowing Point, Road Bay

Military and Security

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Illicit drugs

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