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Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) - Ghana (2003)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) z Ghana (2003)

 British Virgin Islands (2002)Ghana (2003)
 British Virgin IslandsGhana
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
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: 38.9% (male 4,021,570; female 3,938,454)


15-64 years: 57.5% (male 5,859,940; female 5,909,910)


65 years and over: 3.6% (male 350,045; female 387,828) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Airports 3 (2001) 12 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 7


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 2 (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: 239,460 sq km


land: 230,940 sq km


water: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Oregon
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. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. He was succeeded by John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election.
Birth rate 15.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 25.84 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $121.5 million


expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues: $1.603 billion


expenditures: $1.975 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Road Town Accra
Climate subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Coastline 80 km 539 km
Constitution 1 June 1977 approved 28 April 1992
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: British Virgin Islands


abbreviation: BVI
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana


conventional short form: Ghana


former: Gold Coast
Currency US dollar (USD) cedi (GHC)
Death rate 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 10.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $36.1 million (1997) $7.2 billion (2002 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES


embassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra


mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra


telephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348


FAX: [233] (21) 701-813
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. KYEREMATEN


chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520


FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527


consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international none Ghana has received many refugees and returning nationals escaping rebel fighting in Cote d'Ivoire
Economic aid - recipient NA $6.9 billion (1999)
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. Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 36% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002. Policy priorities include tighter monetary and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of social services.
Electricity - consumption 39.1 million kWh (1999) 8.835 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 950 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 42 million kWh (1999) 8.801 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 5%


hydro: 95%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 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) recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic groups black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used cedis per US dollar - NA (2002), 7,170.76 (2001), 5,455.06 (2000), 2,669.3 (1999), 2,314.15 (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: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament


elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 and 28 December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2004)


election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 56.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.6%
Exports $6.2 million NA (2001)
Exports - commodities rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds
Exports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US Netherlands 14.8%, UK 9.9%, US 7%, Germany 6.6%, France 5.8%, Nigeria 4.8%, Belgium 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
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) three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
GDP purchasing power parity - $311 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $41.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 2%


industry: 6%


services: 92% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 36%


industry: 25%


services: 39% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.4% (2000 est.) 4.5% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 30 N, 64 30 W 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Geography - note strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
Highways total: 177 km


paved: 177 km


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
total: 39,409 km


paved: 11,665 km


unpaved: 27,744 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 2.2%


highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and corruption have made money laundering a problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Imports $230 million (2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US Nigeria 21.3%, UK 7.2%, US 6.6%, China 6.2%, Italy 6.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.1%, Germany 4.7%, Netherlands 4% (2002)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 6 March 1957 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (1985) 3.8% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing
Infant mortality rate 19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 53.02 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 55.97 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 49.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.3% (2000) 14.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 16 (2000) 12 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 110 sq km (1998 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 Supreme Court
Labor force 4,911 (1980) 9 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 2,094 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Land use arable land: 20%


permanent crops: 6.67%


other: 73.33% (1998 est.)
arable land: 15.82%


permanent crops: 7.47%


other: 76.71% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official) English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Legal system English law based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 7 December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 100, NDC 92, PNC 3, CPP 1, independents 4
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.85 years


male: 74.9 years


female: 76.84 years (2002 est.)
total population: 56.53 years


male: 55.66 years


female: 57.43 years (2003 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: 74.8%


male: 82.7%


female: 67.1% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200 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.)
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,559 GRT/27,531 DWT


ships by type: petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 6


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Brazil 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $36.01 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.6% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 5,240,557 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 2,911,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 239,742 (2003 est.)
National holiday Territory Day, 1 July Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Nationality noun: British Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: British Virgin Islander
noun: Ghanaian(s)


adjective: Ghanaian
Natural hazards hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Natural resources NEGL gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower
Net migration rate 10.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
People - note - there are 9,500 Liberians, 2,000 Sierra Leoneans, and 1,000 Togolese refugees residing in Ghana (2002)
Pipelines - refined products 74 km (2003)
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] Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, general secretary]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People's Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 21,272 (July 2002 est.) 20,467,747


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 31.4% (1992 est.)
Population growth rate 2.16% (2002 est.) 1.45% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Road Town Takoradi, Tema
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios 9,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 953 km


narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
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) indigenous beliefs 21%, Muslim 16%, Christian 63%
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: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female


total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 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: poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities not yet connected; expansion of services is underway


domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed


international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors
Telephones - main lines in use 10,000 (1996) 240,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 150,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus one cable company) (1997) 10 (2001)
Terrain coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Total fertility rate 1.72 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 3% (1995) 20% (1997 est.)
Waterways none 1,293 km


note: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
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