Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) - Svalbard (2002)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2002) z Svalbard (2002)

 British Virgin Islands (2002)Svalbard (2002)
 British Virgin IslandsSvalbard
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) -
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%
Agriculture - products fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish -
Airports 3 (2001) 4 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total: 2


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: 62,049 sq km


land: 62,049 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than West Virginia
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 discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.
Birth rate 15.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues: $121.5 million


expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues: $11.5 million


expenditures: $11.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) (1998 est.)
Capital Road Town Longyearbyen
Climate subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Coastline 80 km 3,587 km
Constitution 1 June 1977 -
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: British Virgin Islands


abbreviation: BVI
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
Currency US dollar (USD) Norwegian krone (NOK)
Death rate 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external $36.1 million (1997) -
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) -
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) -
Disputes - international none despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
Economic aid - recipient NA $8.2 million from Norway (1998)
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. Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
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: Arctic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 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 Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 8.9684 (January 2002), 8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997)
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: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)


head of government: Governor Morten RUUD (since NA November 1998) and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Exports $6.2 million $NA
Exports - commodities rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand -
Exports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US -
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March -
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 Norway is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $311 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 2%


industry: 6%


services: 92% (1996 est.)
-
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 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Geography - note strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
Highways total: 177 km


paved: 177 km


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
total: NA km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km
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 -
Imports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US -
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) none (territory of Norway)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (1985) NA%
Industries tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center -
Infant mortality rate 19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 live births
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) 13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (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 -
Labor force 4,911 (1980) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% -
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% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) (1998 est.)
Languages English (official) Russian, Norwegian
Legal system English law NA
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
-
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
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 Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Arctic Region
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia


territorial sea: 4 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 demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
National holiday Territory Day, 1 July NA
Nationality noun: British Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: British Virgin Islander
-
Natural hazards hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Natural resources NEGL coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Net migration rate 10.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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] -
Political pressure groups and leaders NA -
Population 21,272 (July 2002 est.) 2,868 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.16% (2002 est.) -1.99% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Road Town Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 9,000 (1997) NA
Railways 0 km 0 km
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) -
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
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: worldwide telephone service


domestic: NA


international: submarine cable to Bermuda
general assessment: probably adequate


domestic: local telephone service


international: satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
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 wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Total fertility rate 1.72 children born/woman (2002 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate 3% (1995) -
Waterways none none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.