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Compare British Virgin Islands (2001) - Netherlands Antilles (2001)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2001) z Netherlands Antilles (2001)

 British Virgin Islands (2001)Netherlands Antilles (2001)
 British Virgin IslandsNetherlands Antilles
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

note:
each island has its own government
Age structure 0-14 years:
22.77% (male 2,399; female 2,339)

15-64 years:
72.31% (male 7,741; female 7,309)

65 years and over:
4.92% (male 555; female 469) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
25.21% (male 27,332; female 26,169)

15-64 years:
66.99% (male 67,562; female 74,599)

65 years and over:
7.8% (male 6,874; female 9,690) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Airports 3 (2000 est.) 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total:
5

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
150 sq km

land:
150 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes the island of Anegada
total:
960 sq km

land:
960 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Background First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were soon after (1672) annexed by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Sint Maarten is shared with France; its northern portion is named Saint Martin and is part of Guadeloupe.
Birth rate 15.18 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 16.55 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$121.5 million

expenditures:
$115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues:
$710.8 million

expenditures:
$741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Capital Road Town Willemstad
Climate subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Coastline 80 km 364 km
Constitution 1 June 1977 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
British Virgin Islands

abbreviation:
BVI
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Netherlands Antilles

local long form:
none

local short form:
Nederlandse Antillen

former:
Curacao and Dependencies
Currency US dollar (USD) Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Death rate 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $36.1 million (1997) $1.35 billion (1996)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission:
Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON

consulate(s) general:
J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao

mailing address:
P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

telephone:
[599] (9) 4613066

FAX:
[599] (9) 4616489
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $2.6 million (1995) IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million
Economy - overview The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1997. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959. Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined slightly in each of the past five years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
Electricity - consumption 39.1 million kWh (1999) 1.032 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 42 million kWh (1999) 1.11 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Mount Sage 521 m
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Mount Scenery 862 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment) NA
Ethnic groups black 90%, white, Asian mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA)

head of government:
Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995)

cabinet:
Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989)

head of government:
Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 8 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER (since NA)

note:
Miguel POURIER assumed prime ministership following the resignation of Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER

cabinet:
Council of Ministers elected by the Staten

elections:
the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)

note:
government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP
Exports $6.2 million (2000 est.) $276 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand petroleum products
Exports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US US 17.5%, Guatemala 8%, Costa Rica 6.5%, The Bahamas 4.6%, Jamaica 4.1%, Chile 3.4% (1998)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
GDP purchasing power parity - $311 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
1.8%

industry:
6.2%

services:
92% (1996 est.)
agriculture:
1%

industry:
15%

services:
84% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2000 est.) -3.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 30 N, 64 30 W 12 15 N, 68 45 W
Geography - note strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico -
Highways total:
132 km

paved:
132 km

unpaved:
0 km (1997)
total:
600 km

paved:
300 km

unpaved:
300 km (1992)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe money-laundering center; transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe
Imports $220 million (2000 est.) $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US Venezuela 35.3%, US 21%, Mexico 9.8%, Italy 5.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, Brazil 3.1% (1998)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (1985) NA%
Industries tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)
Infant mortality rate 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2000) 6.4% (2000 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 16 (2000) 6
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Labor force 4,911 (1980) 89,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (1994 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
10.2 km

border countries:
Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Land use arable land:
20%

permanent crops:
7%

permanent pastures:
33%

forests and woodland:
7%

other:
33% (1993 est.)
arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
90% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official) Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
Legal system English law based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VIP 7, CCM 1, NDP 5
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St. M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government

note:
the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4
Life expectancy at birth total population:
75.64 years

male:
74.74 years

female:
76.59 years (2001 est.)
total population:
74.94 years

male:
72.76 years

female:
77.22 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
97.8% (1991 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
98%

male:
98%

female:
99% (1981 est.)
Location Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the Virgin Islands
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM
exclusive fishing zone:
12 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,285 GRT/6,946 DWT

ships by type:
passenger 1 (2000 est.)
total:
123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,113,774 GRT/1,397,841 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 35, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, multi-functional large-load carrier 19, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 7

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 8, Germany 1, Italy 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Military branches - Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard, Police Force
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
54,284 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
30,405 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
1,610 (2001 est.)
National holiday Territory Day, 1 July Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Nationality noun:
British Virgin Islander(s)

adjective:
British Virgin Islander
noun:
Dutch Antillean(s)

adjective:
Dutch Antillean
Natural hazards hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
Natural resources NEGL phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Net migration rate 11.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL] Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]

note:
political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 20,812 (July 2001 est.) 212,226 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.22% (2001 est.) 0.97% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Road Town Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 9,000 (1997) 217,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981) Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.18 male(s)/female

total population:
1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.71 male(s)/female

total population:
0.92 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
worldwide telephone service

domestic:
NA

international:
submarine cable to Bermuda
general assessment:
generally adequate facilities

domestic:
extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

international:
submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 10,000 (1996) 76,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 13,977 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus one cable company) (1997) 3 (there is also a cable service which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997)
Terrain coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Total fertility rate 1.72 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.07 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 3% (1995) 14.9% (1998 est.)
Waterways none none
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