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)

Economy
-------

Economic overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the
Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an
estimated 45% of the national income. In 1985, the government began
offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate
in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial
revenues. 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 traditional close links with
the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands have used the
dollar as their currency since 1959.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $133 million (1991 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2% (1991 est.)

GDP per capita: $10,600 (1991 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1992)

Budget:
revenues: $77.1 million
expenditures: $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY93/94)

Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete
block, offshore financial center

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)

Electricity:
capacity: 10,500 kW
production: 50 million kWh
consumption per capita: 3,148 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities: rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

External debt: $4.5 million (1985)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Transportation
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Railways: 0 km

Highways: