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Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) - French Guiana (2001)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) z French Guiana (2001)

 British Virgin Islands (2002)French Guiana (2001)
 British Virgin IslandsFrench Guiana
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas department of France)
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:
30.47% (male 27,669; female 26,428)

15-64 years:
64.05% (male 61,457; female 52,266)

65 years and over:
5.48% (male 4,937; female 4,805) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry
Airports 3 (2001) 11 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2

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


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
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:
91,000 sq km

land:
89,150 sq km

water:
1,850 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Indiana
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. First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
Birth rate 15.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 22.02 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $121.5 million


expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues:
$225 million

expenditures:
$390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
Capital Road Town Cayenne
Climate subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 80 km 378 km
Constitution 1 June 1977 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: British Virgin Islands


abbreviation: BVI
conventional long form:
Department of Guiana

conventional short form:
French Guiana

local long form:
none

local short form:
Guyane
Currency US dollar (USD) French franc (FRF); euro (EUR)
Death rate 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $36.1 million (1997) $1.2 billion (1988)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing overseas department of France
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas department of France)
Disputes - international none Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
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. The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
Electricity - consumption 39.1 million kWh (1999) 409.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 42 million kWh (1999) 440 million 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:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Bellevue de l'Inini 851 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 black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996)
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:
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997)

head of government:
President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
Exports $6.2 million $155 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
Exports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997)
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) the flag of France is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $311 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 est.)
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 - $6,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.4% (2000 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 18 30 N, 64 30 W 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Geography - note strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico mostly an unsettled wilderness
Highways total: 177 km


paved: 177 km


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
total:
1,817 km

paved:
817 km

unpaved:
1,000 km (1998)
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 small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Imports $230 million (2000 est.) $625 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals
Imports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas department of France)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (1985) NA%
Industries tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Infant mortality rate 19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.3% (2000) 2.5% (1992)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) FZ, WCL, WFTU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 16 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 20 sq km (1993 est.)
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 Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Labor force 4,911 (1980) 58,800 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
1,183 km

border countries:
Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Land use arable land: 20%


permanent crops: 6.67%


other: 73.33% (1998 est.)
arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
90%

other:
10% (1996 est.)
Languages English (official) French
Legal system English law French legal system
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 General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:
General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2

note:
one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PSG 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.85 years


male: 74.9 years


female: 76.84 years (2002 est.)
total population:
76.3 years

male:
72.97 years

female:
79.79 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:
83%

male:
84%

female:
82% (1982 est.)
Location Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Map references Central America and the Caribbean South America
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
exclusive economic 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 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches - French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
49,495 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
32,052 (2001 est.)
National holiday Territory Day, 1 July Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun: British Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: British Virgin Islander
noun:
French Guianese (singular and plural)

adjective:
French Guianese
Natural hazards hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Natural resources NEGL bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Net migration rate 10.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 10.14 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] Guianese Socialist Party or PSG [Antoine KARAM]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Roland HO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE] (may be a subset of PSG); Walwari Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 21,272 (July 2002 est.) 177,562 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.16% (2002 est.) 2.74% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Road Town Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998)
Radios 9,000 (1997) 104,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km (1995)
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) Roman Catholic
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.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.13 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:
NA

domestic:
fair open wire and microwave radio relay system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 10,000 (1996) 47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA NA
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus one cable company) (1997) 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Total fertility rate 1.72 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 3% (1995) 21.4% (1998)
Waterways none 3,300 km navigable by native craft

note:
460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers
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