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Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) - Christmas Island (2003)
Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) z Christmas Island (2003)
| British Virgin Islands (2002) | Christmas Island (2003) | |
 |  | |
| Administrative divisions | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territory of Australia) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 22.4% (male 2,401; female 2,351)
15-64 years: 72.7% (male 7,962; female 7,509) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 565; female 484) (2002 est.) |
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish | NA |
| Airports | 3 (2001) | 1 (2002) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
- |
| Area | total: 153 sq km
land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the island of Anegada |
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Background | First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 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. | Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. |
| Birth rate | 15.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) | NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: $121.5 million
expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) |
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Capital | Road Town | The Settlement |
| Climate | subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds | tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
| Coastline | 80 km | 80 km |
| Constitution | 1 June 1977 | NA |
| Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI |
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
| Currency | US dollar (USD) | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Death rate | 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) | NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Debt - external | $36.1 million (1997) | $NA |
| Dependency status | overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territory of Australia) |
| Disputes - international | none | none |
| Economic aid - recipient | NA | $NA |
| Economy - overview | The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. 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. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. 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. | Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003. |
| Electricity - consumption | 39.1 million kWh (1999) | NA kWh |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (1999) | - |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (1999) | - |
| Electricity - production | 42 million kWh (1999) | NA kWh |
| Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) |
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 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 catchments) | NA |
| Ethnic groups | black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed | Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001) |
| Exchange rates | the US dollar is used | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998) |
| Executive branch | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)
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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
| Exports | $6.2 million | $NA |
| Exports - commodities | rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand | phosphate |
| Exports - partners | Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US | Australia, NZ |
| Fiscal year | 1 April - 31 March | 1 July - 30 June |
| 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) | the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory |
| GDP | purchasing power parity - $311 million (2000 est.) | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 2%
industry: 6% services: 92% (1996 est.) |
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
| GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.) | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - real growth rate | 4.4% (2000 est.) | NA% |
| Geographic coordinates | 18 30 N, 64 30 W | 10 30 S, 105 40 E |
| Geography - note | strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
| Highways | total: 177 km
paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000) |
total: 240 km
paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000) |
| 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; large offshore financial center | - |
| Imports | $230 million (2000 est.) | $NA |
| Imports - commodities | building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery | consumer goods |
| Imports - partners | Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US | principally Australia |
| Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territory of Australia) |
| Industrial production growth rate | 4% (1985) | NA% |
| Industries | tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Infant mortality rate | 19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) | total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.3% (2000) | NA% |
| International organization participation | Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) | none |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 16 (2000) | 2 (2000) |
| 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 | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
| Labor force | 4,911 (1980) | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) |
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
| Land use | arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (1998 est.) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.) |
| Languages | English (official) | English (official), Chinese, Malay |
| Legal system | English law | under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law |
| 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 four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VIP 7, CCM 1, NDP 5 |
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 75.85 years
male: 74.9 years female: 76.84 years (2002 est.) |
total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA% |
NA |
| Location | Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Southeast Asia |
| Maritime claims | exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM |
contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 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 (2002 est.) |
none (2002 est.) |
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the UK | defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| National holiday | Territory Day, 1 July | NA |
| Nationality | noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander |
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
| Natural hazards | hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
| Natural resources | NEGL | phosphate, beaches |
| Net migration rate | 10.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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] | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | NA | none |
| Population | 21,272 (July 2002 est.) | 433 (July 2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
| Population growth rate | 2.16% (2002 est.) | -9% (2003 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | Road Town | Flying Fish Cove |
| Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios | 9,000 (1997) | - |
| Railways | 0 km | 24 km to serve phosphate mines |
| Religions | Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991) | Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
NA (2003 est.) |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | - |
| Telephone system | general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda |
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000) |
| Telephones - main lines in use | 10,000 (1996) | NA |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | NA | NA |
| Television broadcast stations | 1 (plus one cable company) (1997) | NA |
| Terrain | coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly | steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau |
| Total fertility rate | 1.72 children born/woman (2002 est.) | NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 3% (1995) | NA% |
| Waterways | none | none |
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