Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; mostly rock with sparse
scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds
Environment: frequent hurricanes, other tropical storms (July
to October)
Note: located 270 km east of Puerto Rico
PEOPLE
Population: 6,922 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)
Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 77 years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)
Religion: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Language: English (official)
Literacy: 95% (male 95%, female 95%) age 12 and over can
read and write (1984)
Labor force: 2,780 (1984)
Organized labor: NA
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: The Valley
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution: 1 April 1982
Legal system: based on English common law
National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Brian G. J. CANTY (since NA 1989);
Head of Government--Chief Minister Emile GUMBS (since NA March
1984, served previously from February 1977 to May 1980)
Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla National Alliance (ANA), Emile GUMBS;
Anguilla United Party (AUP), Ronald WEBSTER;
Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Assembly--last held 27 February 1989 (next to
be held February 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(11 total, 7 elected) ANA 3, AUP 2, ADP 1, independent 1
Communists: none
Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and
light blue with three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design
centered in the white band; a new flag may have been in use since
30 May 1990
ECONOMY
Overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy
depends heavily on lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and
remittances from emigrants. In recent years the economy has benefited
from a boom in tourism. Development is planned to improve the
infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist facilities, and
also light industry. Improvement in the economy has reduced
unemployment from 40% in 1984 to about 5% in 1988.
GDP: $23 million, per capita $3,300; real growth rate
8.2% (1988 est.)
