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

Central America and the Caribbean

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

0 km

61 km

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

salt, fish, lobster

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%

0 sq km (2012)

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

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

16,752 (July 2016 est.)

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.)

English (official)

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%, Presbytarian 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.)

2% (2016 est.)

12.7 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

11.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

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

THE VALLEY (capital) 1,000 (2014)

1.75 children born/woman (2016 est.)

43%

urban: 94.6% of population

rural: NA

total: 94.6% of population

urban: 5.4% of population

rural: NA

total: 5.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 97.9% of population

rural: NA

total: 97.9% of population

urban: 2.1% of population

rural: NA

total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

2.8% of GDP (2008)

overseas territory of the UK

parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

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 (2016)

common law based on the English model

see United Kingdom

18 years of age; universal

Anguilla United Front or AUF [Victor BANKS] (an alliance of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA)

Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Dr. Ellis WEBSTER]

Democracy, Opportunity, Vision, and Empowerment Party or DOVE [Sutcliffe HODGE]

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UNESCO (associate), 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

dolphin

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.)

$191.7 million (2008 est.)

$108.9 million (2004 est.)

$175.4 million (2009 est.)

-8.5% (2009 est.)

$12,200 (2008 est.)

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

2% (2015 est.)

6,049 (2001)

8% (2002)

23% (2002 est.)

47,973.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

5,025.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

20.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

1 April - 31 March

-1% (2015 est.)

-0.3% (2014 est.)

6.5% (31 December 2010)

6.5% (31 December 2009)

9.1% (31 December 2015 est.)

9.09% (31 December 2014 est.)

$25.98 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$19.08 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$393 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$385.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$422.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$435.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

-$50.1 million (2015 est.)

-$46.9 million (2014 est.)

$6 million (2015 est.)

$6.3 million (2014 est.)

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

$128.6 million (2015 est.)

$128.7 million (2014 est.)

fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

$8.8 million (1998)

$41.04 million (31 December 2013 est.)

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

2.7 (2015 est.)

2.7 (2014 est.)

2.7 (2013 est.)

2.7 (2012 est.)

2.7 (2011 est.)

1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned (2007)

.ai

VP-A (2016)

2 (2013)

defense is the responsibility of the UK

none

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