British Virgin Islands
At only 151 km², British Virgin Islands is remarkably compact. Smaller than many cities, this territory packs a lot into a tiny footprint. There's more here than meets the eye.
British Virgin Islands is a country in North America with a population of 40.1K and an area of 151 km². Life expectancy is 77.3 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Population Density
259.9How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
CO2 Per Capita
4.87How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Life Expectancy
77.3 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Life Expectancy
77.3 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Internet Users (%)
78.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
University Enrollment Rate
29.6%Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
💰Inflation Rate
8.5%How much prices increased over the year, based on the cost of everyday goods and services.
👥Population Density
259.9How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
👥Median Age
38.8 yearsMedian age from CIA World Factbook.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #211 in dependency ratio
Dependency Ratio: 31.778
The number of dependents (people under 15 or over 64) per 100 working-age adults (ages 15-64).
World Bank 2023Only ranks #237 in land boundaries length
Land Boundaries Length: 0
Total land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Has one of the highest rates of carbon emissions (total)
Carbon Emissions (Total): 188.0K
Total CO2 emissions from CIA World Factbook.
Only ranks #194 in forest area
Forest Area: 36.2
Total forest area in square kilometers, including natural and planted trees at least 5 meters tall.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #211 in population
Population: 40.1K
The total number of people living in the country.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow British Virgin Islands Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Child Mortality
Above avgThe probability that a newborn will die before age 5, per 1,000 live births.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout British Virgin Islands
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west, and the US dollar is the legal currency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.
- Location
- Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
- Climate
- subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
- Terrain
- coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
- Natural Resources
- NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
- Natural Hazards
- hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
- Size Comparison
- about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- Languages
- English (official), Virgin Islands Creole
- Religions
- Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)
- Major Cities
- 15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
- Capital
- Road Town
- Capital Coordinates
- 18 25 N, 64 37 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- the islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time was shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of the UK)
- National Symbols
- zenaida dove, white cedar flower
- National Anthem
- "God Save the King"
- Overview
- British Caribbean island territorial economy; strong tourism and services industries; vulnerable to hurricanes; navigating public debt insolvency since 2008 Crisis; considered a tax haven; high electrification costs; major rum exporter
- Industries
- tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center
- Agricultural Products
- fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
- Export Partners
- Malta 33%, Guyana 22%, Greece 11%, Germany 7%, Indonesia 4% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, molasses, precious stones (2023)
- Import Partners
- USA 34%, Italy 10%, France 9%, China 8%, Luxembourg 5% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, railway cargo containers, jewelry (2023)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 97.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- 1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half-dozen private radio stations
Deep Dive
37 of 39 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Barthélemy
Anguilla
Saint MartinCompare British Virgin Islands with...
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
BelizeShare a Fact
Share something surprising about British Virgin Islands!
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Frequently Asked Questions about British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands has a population of 40.1K, ranking #211 globally by population.
British Virgin Islands is located in North America. It has an area of 151 km².
Life expectancy in British Virgin Islands is 77.3 years, ranking #79 globally.
British Virgin Islands ranks particularly high in Population Density (#49), CO2 Per Capita (#70), Life Expectancy (#79).
British Virgin Islands has a population density of 259.9 people per km², ranking #49 globally.
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