resh water resources
(except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the
islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

People British Virgin Islands

Population: 21,272 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.4% (male 2,401; female 2,351) 15-64 years:
72.7% (male 7,962; female 7,509) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 565;
female 484) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.16% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 15.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 10.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.17 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 76.84 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British
Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups: black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed

Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%),
Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)

Languages: English (official)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Government British Virgin Islands

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:
British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Government type: NA

Capital: Road Town

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July

Constitution: 1 June 1977

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA) elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch;
chief minister app