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Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) - French Guiana (2001)
Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) z French Guiana (2001)
| British Virgin Islands (2008) | French Guiana (2001) | |
 |  | |
| Administrative divisions | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (overseas department of France) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 20.2% (male 2,410/female 2,337)
15-64 years: 74.5% (male 9,004/female 8,534) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 665/female 602) (2007 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 (2007) | 11 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
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 (2007) |
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 islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke |
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 inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. 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 | 14.82 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) | 22.02 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: $204.7 million
expenditures: $180.4 million (2004) |
revenues:
$225 million expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996) |
| Capital | name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Cayenne |
| Climate | subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds | tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation |
| Coastline | 80 km | 378 km |
| Constitution | 13 June 2007 | 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 | - | French franc (FRF); euro (EUR) |
| Death rate | 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2007 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 820,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2005. 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, made 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 US 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 | 41.85 million kWh (2005) | 409.2 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2005) | 0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2005) | 0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - production | 45 million kWh (2005) | 440 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - production by source | - | 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%, other 17% (includes 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 David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)
head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly 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 premier 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 | 0 bbl/day (2004) | $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 (2006) | 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 - $1 billion (1998 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.) |
agriculture:
NA% industry: NA% services: NA% |
| GDP - per capita | - | purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1% (2002 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:
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 makes it vulnerable to money laundering | small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe |
| Imports | 604.3 bbl/day (2004) | $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 (2006) | 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 | NA% | NA% |
| Industries | tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center | construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 16.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2% (2005) | 2.5% (1992) |
| International organization participation | Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU | FZ, WCL, WFTU |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | - | 2 (2000) |
| Irrigated land | NA | 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 | 12,770 (2004) | 58,800 (1997) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 40% services: 59.4% (2005) |
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% (2005) |
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 House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1 |
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: 76.86 years
male: 75.71 years female: 78.07 years (2007 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 | territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Merchant marine | - | 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 (1956) | 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 | 8.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 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 | 23,552 (July 2007 est.) | 177,562 (July 2001 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
| Population growth rate | 1.923% (2007 est.) | 2.74% (2001 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | - | Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni |
| Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004) | AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998) |
| Radios | - | 104,000 (1997) |
| Railways | - | 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 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991) | Roman Catholic |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.031 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.055 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.105 male(s)/female total population: 1.053 male(s)/female (2007 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: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2007) |
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 | 11,700 (2002) | 47,000 (1997) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 8,000 (2002) | NA |
| Television broadcast stations | 1 (plus 1 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 (2007 est.) | 3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% (1997) | 21.4% (1998) |
| Waterways | - | 3,300 km navigable by native craft
note: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers |
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