Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

18 15 N, 63 10 W

Central America and the Caribbean

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

0 km

61 km

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

salt, fish, lobster

NA

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system

the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

14,764 (July 2010 est.)

2.208% (2010 est.)

12.94 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

4.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

13.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

1.75 children born/woman (2010 est.)

NA

NA

NA

black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)

Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%, Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)

English (official)

4% of GDP (2005)

overseas territory of the UK

NA

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

based on English common law

18 years of age; universal

unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms)

High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)

Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]; Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS] (a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA); Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]

NA

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (overseas territory of the UK)

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below

Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry has spurred the growth of the construction sector contributing to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.

$175.4 million (2009 est.)

$191.7 million (2008 est.)

$108.9 million (2004 est.)

$175.4 million (2009 est.)

-8.5% (2009 est.)

$12,200 (2008 est.)

6,049 (2001)

8% (2002)

23% (2002)

5.3% (2006 est.)

6.5% (31 December 2008)

6.5% (31 December 2007)

9.51% (31 December 2008)

9.76% (31 December 2007)

$21.12 million (31 December 2008)

$23.57 million (31 December 2007)

$449.5 million (31 December 2008)

$470.1 million (31 December 2007)

$529.6 million (31 December 2008)

$447.7 million (31 December 2007)

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

NA%

NA kWh

-$42.87 million (2003 est.)

$119.5 million (2009 est.)

lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

$143 million (2006)

fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

$8.8 million (1998)

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

5,800 (2008)

13,100 (2005)

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2009)

1 (1997)

.ai

258 (2009)

4,500 (2008)

3 (2009)

Blowing Point, Road Bay

defense is the responsibility of the UK

none

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe