General Overview
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.
Demographics
The Caribbean is abuzz with tourists, ports packed with cruise ships, beaches coated with glistening baking bodies and wharfs beset with souvenir stalls and busy bars. There is one place in this bright holiday Mecca, though, where tranquility reigns supreme and unspoilt beaches spill down from discreet exclusive resorts to the crystal clear sea.
This is the island of Anguilla, situated in the British West Indies about 150 miles (241km) east of Puerto Rico, and nine miles (14km) north of St Martin. The majority of residents (90.08%) are black, the descendants of slaves transported from Africa. Growing minorities include whites at 3.74% and people of mixed race at 4.65% (figures from 2001 census).
• Country name: Anguilla
• Capital Name: The Valley
• Population: 14,108 (July 2008 est.)
• Nationality: Anguillan(s)
• Languages: English (official)
• Ethnic Groups: Black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)
Economy
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.
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $108.9 million (2004 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 10.2% (2004 est.)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,800 (2004 est.)
• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (2006 est.)
• Exports: $13 million (2006)
• Imports: $143 million (2006)
Government
The Anguilla Constitution Order, which came into effect on April 1st 1982, accords Anguilla the status of a British Dependent Territory. The British Monarch is represented by a Governor who presides over the Executive Council and is responsible for defense, external affairs, internal security, the public service and offshore finance.
• Administrative divisions: None (overseas territory of the UK)
• Legal system: Based on English common law
• Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
• Independence: None (overseas territory of the UK)
References
The Government of Anguilla - Official Website
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
Nation Master - World Data Center
Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia
Lonely Planet - Travel Guidebook
