Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) - New Caledonia (2005)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) z New Caledonia (2005)

	British Virgin Islands (2008)	New Caledonia (2005)

Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
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: 29% (male 32,030/female 30,714) 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 70,294/female 69,506) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 6,513/female 7,437) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products	fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish	vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Airports	3 (2007)	25 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)	total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)	total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6 (2004 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: 19,060 sq km land: 18,575 sq km water: 485 sq km
Area - comparative	about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC	slightly smaller than New Jersey
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.	Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s has dissipated.
Birth rate	14.82 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	18.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget	revenues: $204.7 million expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)	revenues: $861.3 million expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52 million (1996 est.)
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)	Noumea
Climate	subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds	tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Coastline	80 km	2,254 km
Constitution	13 June 2007	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI	conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Death rate	4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external	$36.1 million (1997)	$79 million (1998 est.)
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing	overseas territory of France since 1956
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas territory of France)
Disputes - international	none	Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
Economic aid - recipient	$NA	$880 million annual subsidy from France (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 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.	New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than one-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.
Electricity - consumption	41.85 million kWh (2005)	1.471 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production	45 million kWh (2005)	1.581 billion kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 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)	erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Ethnic groups	black 83%, other 17% (includes white, Indian, Asian and mixed)	Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used	Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000)
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 of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner Michel MATHIEU (since 15 July 2005) head of government: President of the Government Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU (since 10 June 2004) cabinet: Consultative Committee elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note - last election held 29 June 2004 when Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU was elected on the third vote with 8 votes for and 3 abstentions
Exports	0 bbl/day (2004)	NA
Exports - commodities	rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand	ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)	Japan 22%, France 16.5%, Taiwan 12.3%, South Korea 12%, Spain 6.3%, Australia 6.1%, China 4.8%, South Africa 4.5% (2004)
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 - composition by sector	agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)	agriculture: 5% industry: 30% services: 65% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	1% (2002 est.)	NA%
Geographic coordinates	18 30 N, 64 30 W	21 30 S, 165 30 E
Geography - note	strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico	consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
Heliports	-	6 (2004 est.)
Highways	-	total: 5,432 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 makes it vulnerable to money laundering	-
Imports	604.3 bbl/day (2004)	NA
Imports - commodities	building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery	machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)	France 40.3%, Singapore 10.9%, Australia 9.1%, New Zealand 4.9% (2004)
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	-0.6% (1996)
Industries	tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center	nickel mining and smelting
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.)	total: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2% (2005)	-0.6% (2000 est.)
International organization participation	Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU	FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), UPU, WFTU, WMO
Irrigated land	NA	160 sq km (1991)
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 Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Labor force	12,770 (2004)	79,400 (including 15,018 unemployed) (1996)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4% (2005)	agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2005)	arable land: 0.38% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 99.29% (2001)
Languages	English (official)	French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Legal system	English law	the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
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 Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3 note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2007; between now and 2010 New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to be held by June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 2
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 76.86 years male: 75.71 years female: 78.07 years (2007 est.)	total population: 74.04 years male: 71.07 years female: 77.16 years (2005 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: 91% male: 92% female: 90% (1976 est.)
Location	Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico	Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Oceania
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	-	total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2005)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the UK	defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches	-	no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	NA
National holiday	Territory Day, 1 July (1956)	Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality	noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander	noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian
Natural hazards	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)	cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Natural resources	NEGL	nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Net migration rate	8.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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]	Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Caleonian Union or UC [leader NA]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (anti independent) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; The Future Together or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	23,552 (July 2007 est.)	216,494 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA%
Population growth rate	1.923% (2007 est.)	1.28% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	-	Noumea
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)	AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
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 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
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: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 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: NA international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	11,700 (2002)	52,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular	8,000 (2002)	80,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations	1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997)	6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain	coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly	coastal plains with interior mountains
Total fertility rate	1.72 children born/woman (2007 est.)	2.31 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	3.6% (1997)	19% (1996)

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