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 The
Development Planning Unit
Government of the British Virgin Islands
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Publications> Index>
Towards Sustainable
Development
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Sustainable Development for
Small Island Developing States
Continued/...
4. Current Status and Problems of Socio-Economic Development -
Part 1
4.1 Physical Characteristics
4.1.1 Geography of the British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands (BVI), a group of thirty six islands located in the Eastern Caribbean at latitude 18 degrees 30' North and longitude 64 degrees 30' West, have a land area of 59 sq. miles (153 sq. km.). Figure IV.1.1 shows the location of the BVI in the Caribbean Sea and Figure IV.1.2 shows the islands of the BVI. Table IV.1.1 lists the four main islands and their areas.
| Table
4.1.1 Areas of the main Islands of the BVI |
| Island |
Area |
| |
(sq. miles) |
(sq. km) |
| Tortola/Beef Island |
34 |
54 |
| Anegada |
24 |
38 |
| Virgin Gorda |
13 |
21 |
| Jost Van Dyke |
6 |
9 |
The Territorial Sea extends 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) from the low water line along the coast. The area of the Territorial Sea is 575 sq. miles (1,469 sq. km), this is approximately ten times the land area.
The BVI is a crown colony of the United Kingdom (UK) and has internal self government with an elected Legislative Council. The UK appoints a Governor who is responsible for defence, internal security, external affairs, the civil service and administration of the courts.
IV.1.2 Geology
Geologically, the BVI belongs to the Greater Antilles and, together with the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), rise from the Puerto Rican shelf which lies about 213 ft (65 m) below sea level. Most of the islands were uplifted from submerged volcanos. The rocks of the BVI, with the exception of Anegada, consist of thick, steeply inclined metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary stratified series of Cretaceous age, into which dioritic and pegamites have been intruded. The stratified rocks strike east-west and dip north at angles of over 45 degrees to the horizontal. They are predominantly marine laid pyroclastics, tuffaceous and normal marine sediments.
Anegada, an emergent coral limestone platform, apparently dates from the Pleistocene age.
The BVI is located in an active earthquake zone as a result of subduction taking place between the Caribbean and Atlantic crustal plates. The islands experience mild tremors on a fairly frequent basis (at least one per year).
IV.1.3 Soils
On all the islands except Anegada, there are shallow, friable and permeable brown loams with frequent outcrops of bare rock. Anegada has very little soil, limestone outcrops are extensive. Soils throughout the islands appear to be young and immature, the shallowness of the soils limits agriculture.
Soil permeability is an area requiring further study. Septic tanks in shallow soils on slopes or in the deeper clay soils in the valleys can cause serious pollution problems when effluents cannot be properly absorbed. There is no detailed soils survey for the BVI.
IV.1.4 Vegetation
The vegetation consists mainly of dry cactus woodland, although there are remnants of moist forest at some of the higher elevations and along some of the ghuts. The original forest was cut to make way for cotton and sugar cane during the plantation era. More recently in the 1960's and 1970's the forest was cleared for pasture land. The BVI has experienced the spreading of residential and tourist development up the steep slopes. A major concern is to conserve and regenerate the vegetation cover on the hillsides in the major, populated islands.
Along the flatter coastal areas there are narrow strips of mangroves and more extensive stands around the salt ponds and lagoons.
IV.1.5 Climate
The BVI has a sub-tropical climate, with daytime temperatures that fall within the range 77 - 85 degrees F (25 - 29 degrees C), temperatures usually drop 10 degrees F (6 degrees C) at night. The BVI lies within the Trade Wind belt, winds approach with great constancy from directions between northeast and southeast.
Rainfall averages 40 inches (102 cm) per year along the coastal areas, reaching over 70 inches (178 cm) in the hills. Rainfall occurs throughout the year with the wettest months October/November and the driest months May/June.
There are no perennial streams and very little surface water. Wells in the alluvial valleys and ghut areas of Tortola and Virgin Gorda and shallow wells in Anegada are the main sources of water supply besides roof rainfall catchments. Recently a major desalination plant was installed at Baughers Bay, near Road Town, and Virgin Gorda to convert seawater to fresh water. Reverse osmosis plants have been installed to treat well water at Cappoons Bay and Road Town.
The BVI lies in the hurricane belt. Figure IV.1.5.1 shows the number of hurricanes and tropical storms that have passed within 75 nautical miles (139 km) of Anegada between 1886 and 1985. Figure 4 shows the tracks of tropical cyclones passing within 75 nautical miles (139 km) of Tortola. Generally the storms are moving from the southeast to the northwest, and the highest frequency is experienced in September.
The last hurricane when the centre passed directly over the BVI was in 1924. However, severe damage has been experienced in the BVI more recently when tropical storms and hurricanes passed close to the BVI, e.g. in 1984 with Tropical Storm Klaus and in 1989 with Hurricane Hugo. Hurricane Hugo, a category 4 hurricane, passed 60 miles (97 km) south of the BVI on 18.09.89, with sustained winds of 100 mph (161 km/hr). The storm had an estimated surge of 8 ft (2.4 m) and heavy rainfall. The estimated damage from this storm was
between $35 - $40 million dollars.
IV.1.6 Topography
All the islands with the exception of Anegada are hilly with steep slopes. Tortola, the largest and most developed island, is elongated east-west, 11 miles (18 km) long, and 3.5 miles (6 km) wide. There is a pronounced ridge running the length of the island, there are no transverse valleys or passes through the ridge. The highest point on Tortola and the entire BVI is Mount Sage, 1,700 feet (518 m).
A number of natural drainage channels or ghuts run down from the ridges. These ghuts are generally dry and run only after heavy rainfall. At times substantial amounts of silt can be found where they enter the sea.
Flat land (land with gradients of less than 20%) is limited and usually occurs as a narrow strip between the mountains and the sea. However, in Tortola, there are a few areas with more extensive areas of flat land, e.g. Road Town, East End/Long Look and Paraquita Bay. At Road Town extensive reclamation work was carried out in the 1960's to provide flat land for economic development.
The coastline is very indented with sheltered bays and anchorages alternating with precipitous cliffs where mountainsides rise abruptly from the sea.
Virgin Gorda rises to a central peak, Gorda Peak, 1370 feet (418 m), with a lateral ridge forming a long narrow peninsula on its eastern side. A southern promontory; known as The Valley, is comparatively flat and is dotted with huge granite boulders. Jost Van Dyke, while smaller than Tortola, is a geological and topographical replica of the larger island. Anegada is very flat with virtually no topographical features, the maximum altitude is 26 feet (8 m). The western part of the island contains large areas of salt ponds.
IV.2 Population and the Social Sectors
IV.2.1 Population Size and Growth
The British Virgin Islands, one of the few remaining British Dependent Territories, are located on the Eastern Caribbean about sixty miles east of Puerto Rico. They comprise over forty islands with the most populated ones being Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. Tortola with a population of over 13,000 and an area of twenty one square miles is the center of government. The islands economy is based mainly on tourism and servicing of international business companies.
The population growth in the British Virgin Islands has fluctuated in the nineteenth century when in 1871 the population recorded was 6,651, then declining to 5,787 and 4,639 for the census years 1881 and 1891 respectively. It was not until the twentieth century that the population showed upward movements up to 1991, except for the year 1921 when the population declined from 5,562 in 1911 to 5,082.
Table IV.2.1 below shows the total population recorded for censuses taken from 1871 to 1991, together with sex ratios and average annual increases.
Table IV.2.1`
Population Size and Growth, Census Years 1871 to 1991
|
Years |
Population |
Sex Ratio |
Average Annual Increase |
| |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
1871 |
3,379 |
3,272 |
6,651 |
1.03 |
.. |
1881 |
2,583 |
2,904 |
5,787 |
0.96 |
-136 |
1891 |
2,140 |
2,499 |
4,639 |
0.86 |
-65 |
1901 |
2,254 |
2,654 |
4,908 |
0.85 |
27 |
1911 |
2,613 |
2,949 |
5,562 |
0.89 |
65 |
1921 |
2,335 |
2,747 |
5,082 |
0.85 |
-48 |
1946 |
3,146 |
3,359 |
6,505 |
0.94 |
57 |
1960 |
3,930 |
3,991 |
7,921 |
0.98 |
101 |
1970 |
5,131 |
4,541 |
9,672 |
1.13 |
175 |
1980 |
5,617 |
5,368 |
10,985 |
1.05 |
121 |
1991 |
8,258 |
7,850 |
16,108 |
1.05 |
466 |
|
|
|
Source: Population Affairs and Social
Statistics Division, Development Planning Unit
In the early twentieth
century there were small fluctuations in the total population but by 1946 continuous
growth had resumed so that in 1990 the total reached 10,985 followed by an accelerated
growth of 46.6% reaching 16,108 by the 1991 census.
The sex ratios presented in Table
4.2.1 reveal that growth had not occurred equally among both males and females
particularly after 1946. The historical deficit of males from 1881 to 1946, a consequence
of high levels of emigration, is shown as sex ratios declined to 0.85 in 1901 thereafter
increasing to 0.98 in 1946. Owing to the low level of economic activities in the Territory
in the 1920's, large numbers of the male labour force sought employment in the United
States Virgin Islands and in the Sugar Industry of the Dominican Republic. The deficit of
males disappeared after 1960 when the first large investments in tourism plant and
infrastructure began, thus creating a local demand for construction and service workers.
Another factor influencing the positive sex ratio after 1960 was the inflow of male
migrant workers to fill the short fall of workers mainly for the tourism and construction
industries.
An examination of vital
registration data in Tables 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 sheds further light on the population changes
since 1970. The figures in Table 4.2.2 suggest the overall population growth of 1313
during the 1970's, the consequence of a natural increase (births minus deaths) to 1,833
being balanced by a residual net migration loss of 613 persons.
Table 4.2.2
Components of Population Change 1970 - 1980 |
Components |
Males |
Females |
Total |
Population in 1970 |
5,131 |
4,541 |
9,672 |
Population in 1980 |
5,617 |
5,368 |
10,985 |
Intercensal Change |
486 |
827 |
1,313 |
Registered Births (1) 1970 - 1980 |
1,261 |
1,213 |
2,474 |
Registered Deaths (1) 1970 - 1980 |
387 |
254 |
641 |
Natural Increase 1970 - 1980 |
874 |
959 |
1,833 |
Estimated Net migration |
-446 |
-167 |
-613 |
|
Sources: Population Affairs and
Social Statistics Division, Development Planning Unit, Office of the Registrar
(1) Registered events
include all those registered in 1971 to 1979 and half of those registered in 1970 and 1980.
Table 4.2.3
Components of Population Change 1980 to 1991 |
Components |
Males |
Females |
Total |
Population in 1970 |
5,617 |
5,368 |
10,985 |
Population in 1980 |
8,258 |
7,850 |
16,108 |
Intercensal Change |
2,641 |
2,482 |
5,123 |
Registered Births (2) 1980 - 1991 |
1,366 |
1,370 |
2,736 |
Registered Deaths (2) 1980 - 1991 |
466 |
301 |
767 |
Natural Increase 1980 - 1991 |
900 |
1,069 |
1,969 |
Estimated Net migration |
1741 |
1,413 |
3,154 |
|
Sources: Population
Affairs and Social Statistics Division, Development Planning Unit, Office of the
Registrar, Department of Immigration
(2) Registered events include all those registered in 1981 to 1990 and
half of those registered in 1980 and 1991.
The figures in Table
4.2.3 show that the overall population growth of 5,123 during the intercensal years 1980
to 1991 is the consequence of a natural increase (births minus deaths) of 1,969 being
balanced by a net migration inflow of 3,154 persons. The net migration figure represents
the difference between passenger arrivals and departures confined to non-British Virgin
Islanders who reside permanently in the United States Virgin Islands as well as British
Virgin Islanders.
A comparison of the
population growth for the intercensal periods 1970 to 1980 and 1980 to 1991 shows that the
Territory moved from a net outward migration figure of 613 in the period 1970 to 1980 to a
net migration inflow of 3,154 for the period 1980 to 1991. In addition the figures reveal
that an outward migration figure of 446 males in the period 1970 to 1980 increased to a
net inflow of 1,741 in the period 1980 to 1991. A similar change occurred in the female
population when the net migration outflow figure of 167 females was increased to a net
migration inflow of 1,413.
The large inflow of
immigrants consisting mainly of workers accompanied in some cases with their dependants
during the period 1980 to 1991 was a consequence of an increase in the demand for labour
which the local labour force could not supply due to its inadequate numbers and the lack
of the range of skills demanded. This accelerated increase in the demand for labour also
resulted from a sustained and expanding increase in economic activities mainly in tourism,
construction, financial services, transportation and communication sectors of the economy
from 1986 as shown in Table 4.2.4 below.
Table 4.2.4
British Virgin Islands Gross Domestic Product
by Economic Activity at Factor Cost (US$ Million) |
Economic Activity Sector |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
Agriculture |
3.56 |
3.66 |
3.73 |
4.35 |
4.40 |
4.76 |
Mining and Quarrying |
0.11 |
0.16 |
0.16 |
0.21 |
0.24 |
0.30 |
Manufacturing |
2.27 |
2.31 |
2.87 |
3.45 |
3.73 |
4.30 |
Electricity and Water |
2.68 |
2.87 |
3.60 |
4.10 |
4.78 |
5.21 |
Construction |
6.83 |
5.91 |
5.43 |
6.53 |
7.34 |
9.45 |
Wholesale and Retail Distribution |
6.48 |
6.61 |
7.17 |
7.56 |
8.06 |
11.20 |
Hotels and Restaurants |
16.76 |
18.0 |
18.97 |
24.63 |
26.14 |
28.25 |
Transportation and Communication |
7.73 |
8.70 |
9.74 |
12.28 |
14.41 |
21.28 |
Banks and Insurance |
5.49 |
5.94 |
6.25 |
7.30 |
8.20 |
10.63 |
Real Estate and Housing |
15.26 |
16.50 |
17.29 |
18.72 |
19.32 |
20.58 |
Government Services |
11.28 |
10.25 |
11.82 |
12.91 |
17.79 |
19.00 |
Other Services |
4.61 |
4.70 |
4.82 |
6.00 |
6.29 |
6.50 |
Less Imputed Service Charge |
5.16 |
5.21 |
5.27 |
6.52 |
7.18 |
9.01 |
G.D.P at Factor Cost |
77.90 |
80.40 |
86.58 |
101.52 |
113.45 |
132.45 |
Growth Rate |
- |
3.2 |
7.7 |
17.3 |
11.8 |
16.7 |
|
Source: BVI National Accounts
Statistics, 1984-1989
4.2.2 Demographic Characteristics
The age and sex
structure of the population in 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1991 is described in Table 4.2.5
below.
The 1980 and 1991 age
distributions do not follow the pattern of other Caribbean countries in that they do not
show a rapid depletion by emigration of residents after age 20. In the 1991 distribution,
the 25 - 29 and 30 -34 age groups are actually somewhat larger than the 20-24 group, and
it is only after age 34 that the cohorts shrink rapidly in size. The unusual age structure
can be explained largely by the recent rapid structural transformation of the economy of
the British Virgin Islands after 1960. Whereas the older cohorts experienced a pattern of
heavy emigration as in the other Caribbean countries, the younger cohorts have emigrated
less and recent emigration has been balanced and surpassed by substantial immigration of
young adults mainly from Eastern Caribbean Islands.
Other noteworthy
features of the 1991 age distribution are, firstly the absence of a bulge in the pyramid
at old ages that would result from heavy retirement immigration or return migration by
persons born in the BVI who emigrated to find work, and secondly some indication of under
cutting of the pyramid at the youngest ages that would indicate substantial increases in
fertility in recent times.
Table 4.2.5
Population by Sex and Five Year Age Group 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1991 |
Age Groups |
1960 |
1970 |
1980 |
1991 |
| |
Male. |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female. |
Total |
Male |
Female. |
Total |
Male |
Female. |
Total |
| 0-4 |
743 |
707 |
1,450 |
704 |
723 |
1,427 |
664 |
627 |
1,291 |
809 |
798 |
1,607 |
5-9 |
671 |
633 |
1,304 |
618 |
643 |
1,261 |
662 |
646 |
1,308 |
728 |
700 |
1,428 |
10-14 |
519 |
520 |
1,039 |
560 |
540 |
1,100 |
548 |
588 |
1,136 |
674 |
668 |
1,342 |
15-19 |
376 |
368 |
744 |
498 |
460 |
950 |
503 |
503 |
1,006 |
604 |
616 |
1,220 |
20-24 |
223 |
291 |
514 |
667 |
413 |
1,080 |
517 |
538 |
1,055 |
741 |
764 |
1,505 |
25-29 |
192 |
218 |
410 |
436 |
345 |
781 |
574 |
546 |
1,120 |
950 |
903 |
1,853 |
30-34 |
174 |
199 |
373 |
312 |
272 |
584 |
490 |
428 |
918 |
877 |
851 |
1,728 |
35-39 |
178 |
176 |
354 |
244 |
177 |
421 |
380 |
300 |
680 |
712 |
674 |
1,386 |
40-44 |
169 |
173 |
342 |
229 |
184 |
413 |
233 |
222 |
455 |
591 |
506 |
1,097 |
45-49 |
155 |
150 |
305 |
200 |
168 |
368 |
170 |
188 |
358 |
419 |
351 |
770 |
50-54 |
135 |
109 |
244 |
156 |
173 |
329 |
193 |
188 |
381 |
280 |
256 |
536 |
55-59 |
110 |
105 |
215 |
144 |
123 |
267 |
188 |
135 |
323 |
195 |
173 |
368 |
60-64 |
79 |
95 |
174 |
103 |
76 |
179 |
140 |
154 |
294 |
181 |
172 |
353 |
65-69 |
69 |
83 |
152 |
101 |
81 |
182 |
123 |
114 |
237 |
176 |
136 |
312 |
70-74 |
70 |
68 |
138 |
65 |
69 |
134 |
96 |
66 |
162 |
129 |
108 |
237 |
75-79 |
37 |
47 |
84 |
47 |
41 |
88 |
75 |
59 |
134 |
89 |
85 |
174 |
80-84 |
16 |
31 |
47 |
30 |
36 |
66 |
31 |
25 |
56 |
46 |
42 |
88 |
85+ |
14 |
18 |
32 |
17 |
17 |
34 |
28 |
34 |
62 |
43 |
41 |
84 |
Not Stated |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
7 |
9 |
14 |
6 |
20 |
Total |
3,930 |
3,991 |
7,921 |
5,131 |
4,541 |
9,672 |
5,617 |
5,368 |
10,985 |
8,258 |
7,850 |
16,108 |
Sources: British Virgin Islands
National Census Reports
The sex ratios by age
groups for census years 1960, 1970, 1980 do not exhibit the steady decline with age which
can be observed in most populations as a consequence of the generally lower mortality of
females than males at all ages. Instead the pattern is irregular, probably as a result of
sex selecting immigration and to some extent because of the small numbers involved. It is
very unusual to find that almost all ages above 50 the ratios are above 100, as observed
for census years 1980 and 1991 thus indicating that there are more males than females even
in the oldest age groups. This indicates that retirement immigration or return migration
is probably confined to males.
Table
IV.2.6
British
Virgin Islands
Percentage Distribution of the Population 1991
by Age Group and Sex
|
Age
Group
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
|
0 - 4
|
9.8
|
10.2
|
10.0
|
|
5 - 9
|
8.8
|
8.9
|
8.9
|
|
10
- 14
|
8.2
|
8.5
|
8.3
|
|
15
- 19
|
7.3
|
7.8
|
7.6
|
|
20
- 24
|
9.0
|
9.7
|
9.4
|
|
25
- 29
|
11.5
|
11.5
|
11.5
|
|
30
- 34
|
10.6
|
10.9
|
10.7
|
|
35
- 39
|
8.6
|
8.6
|
8.6
|
|
40
- 44
|
7.1
|
6.4
|
6.8
|
|
45
- 49
|
5.1
|
4.5
|
4.8
|
|
50
- 54
|
3.4
|
3.3
|
3.3
|
|
55
- 59
|
2.4
|
2.2
|
2.3
|
|
60
- 64
|
2.2
|
2.2
|
2.2
|
|
65
- 69
|
|
