| British Virgin Islands Largest Islands Tortola,
Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
Total Area 58 sq mi (151 sq km)
Highest Point Mount Sage (on Tortola);
1,709 ft (521 m)
Lowest Point Caribbean Sea; sea level
Natural Resources none
Population (July 2015 est)
33,454
Ethnic Groups black, white, mixed, East
Indian
Languages English (official)
Religions Methodist, Anglican,
Church of God, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman
Catholic, Baptist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Hindu
Capital Road Town
Form of Government self-governing
overseas territory of the United Kingdom
Present Constitution Adopted June 15,
2007
Chief of State Queen Elizabeth II
(since February 6, 1952); represented by Governor
John Duncan (since August 15, 2014)
Head of Government Premier
Orlando Smith (since November 9, 2011)
Cabinet Executive Council appointed by
the governor from members of the House of Assembly
Legislature unicameral House of Assembly
Judiciary Eastern Caribbean Supreme
Court
Currency U.S. Dollar
Per Capita Income $42,300
Principal Industries tourism,
light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,
offshore banking services
Agricultural Products fruits, vegetables;
livestock, poultry, fish
Export Commodities rum, fresh
fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Import Commodities building
materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
National Holiday
Territory Day, July 1 (1956)
Flag blue with the flag of the
United Kingdom 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
islands were named by Christopher Columbus
in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin
followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were
martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the
figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint;
the other lamps symbolize her followers
SEE ALSO
Queen Elizabeth II
Christopher
Columbus
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