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

18 15 N, 63 10 W

about half the size of Washington, DC

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 65 m

salt, fish, lobster

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2001)

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

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

13,008 (July 2004 est.)

1.98% (2004 est.)

14.45 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

5.46 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

total population: 76.9 years
male: 73.99 years
female: 79.91 years (2004 est.)

black (predominant), mulatto, white

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

English (official)

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

overseas territory of the UK

The Valley

Anguilla Day, 30 May

Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

based on English common law

18 years of age; universal

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, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed 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.

purchasing power parity - $104 million (2001 est.)

2.8% (2001 est.)

purchasing power parity - $8,600 (2001 est.)

2.3%

6,049 (2001)

agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)

6.7% (2001)

revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

3.1% (1997 est.)

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

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

6,200 (2002)

1,800 (2002)

general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

Blowing Point, Road Bay

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