Editing British Virgin Islands

{{Short description|British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean}}
{{About|the British Overseas Territory|the island group, which also includes the United States Virgin Islands and Spanish Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands}}
{{Redirect|BVI}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox dependency
| name = Virgin Islands
| settlement_type = [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]]
| linking_name = the British Virgin Islands
| image_flag = Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg
| flag_size = 130px
| flag_link = Flag of the British Virgin Islands
| image_seal = Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands.svg
| seal_size = 75px
| seal_type = Coat of arms
| seal_link = Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands
| motto = ''Vigilate'' ([[Latin]])<br />"Be Vigilant"
| anthem = "[[God Save the King]]"<div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;"></div><br/><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:United States Navy Band - God Save the King.oga]]</div>
| song_type = '''Territorial song'''
| song = "[[Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands]]"
| image_map = British Virgin Islands on the globe (Americas centered).svg
| map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=circled in red }}
| mapsize = 290px
| image_map2 = British Virgin Islands locator.svg
| mapsize2 = 250px
| subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| established_title = {{nowrap|Before annexation}}
| established_date = [[Dutch West Indies]]
| established_title2 = British capture
| established_date2 = 1672
| established_title3 = [[Cooper Island (British Virgin Islands)|Cooper Island]] sold to UK
| established_date3 = 
| established_title4 = Separate colony
| established_date4 = 1960
| established_title5 = Autonomy
| established_date5 = 1967
| official_languages = [[North American English|English]]
| demonym = {{hlist|[[Demographics of the British Virgin Islands|Virgin Islander]]}}
| capital = [[Road Town]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|18|25|53|N|64|37|23|W|type:city}}
| largest_city = capital
| ethnic_groups = 76.9% [[Afro-Caribbean|Black]]<br />5.6% [[Hispanic]]<br />5.4% [[White Caribbean|White]]<br />5.4% [[Multiracial|Mixed]]<br />2.1% [[Indo-Caribbean|Indian]]<br />4.6% other
| ethnic_groups_year = 2010<ref name=ReferenceB />
| government_type =Parliamentary [[Dependent territory|dependency]] under a [[constitutional monarchy]]
| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch]]
| leader_name1 = [[Charles III]]
| leader_title2 = [[Governor of the Virgin Islands|Governor]]
| leader_name2 = [[Daniel Pruce]]
| leader_title4 = [[Premier of the Virgin Islands|Premier]]
| leader_name4 = [[Natalio Wheatley]]
| legislature = [[House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands|House of Assembly]]
| national_representation = [[Government of the United Kingdom]]
| national_representation_type1 = [[Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories|Minister]]
| national_representation1 = [[Stephen Doughty]]
| area_km2 = 153
| area_rank = 
| area_sq_mi = 59 <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| percent_water = 1.6
| elevation_max_m = 521 
| population_estimate = 30,030
| population_census = 28,054<ref name="ReferenceB">The BVI Beacon "Portrait of a population: 2010 Census published" p. 4, 20 November 2014</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2019
| population_estimate_rank = 222nd
| population_census_year = 2010
| population_density_km2 = 260
| population_density_sq_mi = 673 <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| population_density_rank = 68th
| GDP_PPP = $500 million<ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=British Virgin Islands|date=22 April 2022|year=2022}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2017
| GDP_PPP_rank = 
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $34,200
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 
| GDP_nominal = 
| GDP_nominal_year = 2017
| GDP_nominal_rank = 
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = 
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 
| Gini = 
| Gini_year = 
| Gini_change = <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| Gini_ref = 
| HDI = <!-- 0.981 -->
| HDI_year = <!-- 2019 - Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change = <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| HDI_ref = 
| HDI_rank = 
| currency = [[United States dollar]] (US$)
| currency_code = USD
| timezone = [[Atlantic Time Zone|AST]]
| utc_offset = -4:00
| date_format = dd/mm/yyyy
| drives_on = left
| calling_code = [[North American Numbering Plan|+1]]-[[Area code 284|284]]
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in the Pitcairn Islands|UK postcode]]
| postal_code = VG-11xx
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:VG|VG]]
| cctld = [[.vg]]
|website=https://gov.vg/}}
The '''British Virgin Islands''' ('''BVI'''),<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=British Virgin Islands|access-date= 13 July 2019|year=2019}}</ref> officially the '''Virgin Islands''',<ref>According to the ''[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1678/pdfs/uksi_20071678_en.pdf Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007]'', the territory's official name is simply 'Virgin Islands'.</ref> are a [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]] in the [[Caribbean]], to the east of [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[United States Virgin Islands|US Virgin Islands]] and north-west of [[Anguilla]]. The islands are geographically part of the [[Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands archipelago]] and are located in the [[Leeward Islands]] of the [[Lesser Antilles]] and part of the [[West Indies]].

The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of [[Tortola]], [[Virgin Gorda]], [[Anegada]] and [[Jost Van Dyke]], along with more than 50 other smaller islands and [[cay]]s.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Virgin-Islands |title=Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI |access-date= 13 July 2019}}</ref> About 16 of the islands are inhabited.<ref name="cia.gov"/> The capital, [[Road Town]], is on Tortola, the largest island, which is about {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5|km|0|abbr=on}} wide. The islands had a population of 28,054 at the 2010 Census, of whom 23,491 lived on Tortola;<ref name=ReferenceB /> current estimates put the population at 35,802 (July 2018).<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The economy of the territory is overwhelmingly dominated by tourism and financial services. In terms of financial services, the territory is known as a leading hub for tax evasion and concealment of assets.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=16 December 2024 |title=Dirty money's hiding spots: How corruption funds disappear overseas -… |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/news/dirty-money-hiding-spots-how-corruption-funds-disappear-overseas-billions-africa-assets |website=Transparency.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2021 |title=British Virgin Islands corruption scandal threatens its dependable tax haven reputation – ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/british-virgin-islands-corruption-scandal-threatens-its-dependable-tax-haven-reputation/ |website=ICIJ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Butts |first=Dylan |date=16 October 2024 |title=Overseas UK territories are the 'biggest enablers of corporate tax abuse,' tax advocacy group says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/17/corporate-tax-abuse-highest-in-overseas-uk-territories-tjn-says.html#:~:text=Law%20and%20Regulations-,Overseas%20UK%20territories%20are%20the%20'biggest%20enablers%20of%20corporate,abuse,'%20tax%20advocacy%20group%20says&text=Advocacy%20group%20the%20Tax%20Justice,corporations%20underpay%20corporate%20income%20tax. |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

British Virgin Islanders are [[British Overseas Territories citizen]]s and, since 2002, also [[British nationality law|British citizens]].

==Etymology==
The islands were named "Santa Úrsula y las Once Mil Vírgenes" by [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1493 after the legend of [[Saint Ursula]] and the 11,000 virgins.<ref name="cia.gov"/><ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> The name was later shortened to "the Virgin Islands".<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The official name of the territory is still simply the "Virgin Islands", but the prefix "British" is often used. This is commonly believed to distinguish it from the neighbouring American territory which changed its name from the "[[Danish West Indies]]" to "[[Virgin Islands of the United States]]" in 1917. However, local historians have disputed this, pointing to a variety of publications and public records dating from between 21 February 1857 and 12 September 1919 where the territory is referred to as the ''British'' Virgin Islands.<ref name=Moll>{{cite news |last=Moll |first=Peter |date=15 December 2016 |title=Victorian news mined for VI history |newspaper=[[BVI Beacon]]}}</ref> British Virgin Islands government publications continue to begin with the name "The territory of the Virgin Islands", and [[British Virgin Islands passport|the territory's passports]] simply refer to the "Virgin Islands", and all laws begin with the words "Virgin Islands". Moreover, the territory's Constitutional Commission has expressed the view that "every effort should be made" to encourage the use of the name "Virgin Islands".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bvi.gov.vg/content/about-territory |title=About the Territory |publisher=Government of the Virgin Islands |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> But various public and quasi-public bodies continue to use the name "British Virgin Islands" or "BVI", including BVI Finance, BVI Electricity Corporation, BVI Tourist Board, BVI Athletic Association, [[BVI Bar Association]] and others.

In 1968 the British Government issued a memorandum requiring that the postage stamps in the territory should say "British Virgin Islands" (whereas previously they had simply stated "Virgin Islands"), a practice which is still followed today.<ref name=Moll /> This was likely to prevent confusion following on from the adoption of US currency in the territory in 1959, and the references to US currency on the stamps of the territory.

==History==
{{Main|History of the British Virgin Islands}}

It is generally thought that the Virgin Islands were first settled by the [[Arawak]] from South America around 100 BC to AD 200, though there is some evidence of [[Amerindian]] presence on the islands as far back as 1500 BC.<ref>Wilson, Samuel M. ed. ''The Indigenous People of the Caribbean''. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1997. {{ISBN|0-8130-1692-4}}</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bvi.gov.vg/content/our-history |title=Government of the Virgin Islands – Our History |access-date= 13 July 2019}}</ref> The Arawaks inhabited the islands until the 15th century when they were displaced by the [[Kalinago]] (Island Caribs), a tribe from the [[Lesser Antilles]] islands.

The first European sighting of the Virgin Islands was by the Spanish expedition of [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1493 on his second voyage to the Americas, who gave the islands their modern name.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=History in Virgin Islands |url=https://www.frommers.com/destinations/virgin-islands/in-depth/history/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Frommers |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-11 |title=Questions asked about territory’s name - The BVI Beacon |url=https://www.bvibeacon.com/questions-asked-about-territory-s-name/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Spanish Empire]] claimed the islands by discovery in the early 16th century, but never settled them, and subsequent years saw the English, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Danish all jostling for control of the region, which became a notorious haunt for [[Piracy in the British Virgin Islands|pirates]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> There is no record of any native Amerindian population in the British Virgin Islands during this period; it is thought that they either fled to safer islands or were killed.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/>

The Dutch established a [[Dutch Virgin Islands|permanent settlement]] on the island of [[Tortola]] by 1648,<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> frequently clashing with the Spanish who were based on nearby Puerto Rico. In 1672, the English captured Tortola from the Dutch, and the English annexation of [[Anegada]] and [[Virgin Gorda]] followed in 1680.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meditz |first1=Sandra |last2=Hanratty |first2=Dennis |title=British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Montserrat |url=http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/108.htm |website=countrystudies.us |publisher=Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress |access-date=23 March 2020 |year=1987}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History {{!}} Government of the Virgin Islands |url=https://bvi.gov.vg/content/our-history |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=bvi.gov.vg}}</ref> Meanwhile, over the period 1672–1733, the Danish gained control of the nearby islands of [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|Saint Thomas]], [[Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands|Saint John]] and [[Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands|Saint Croix]] (i.e. the modern US Virgin Islands).

[[File:St Phillips Church, Tortola.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|The ruins of [[St. Phillip's Anglican Church (British Virgin Islands)|St. Phillip's Church, Tortola]], one of the most important historical ruins in the territory]]
The British islands were considered principally a strategic possession. The British introduced [[sugar cane]] which was to become the main crop and source of foreign trade, and large numbers of [[Slavery in the British Virgin Islands|slaves]] were forcibly brought from Africa to work on the sugar cane plantations.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> The islands prospered economically until the middle of the nineteenth century, when a combination of the [[abolition of slavery]] in the British Empire in 1834, a series of disastrous hurricanes, and the growth in the [[sugar beet]] crop in Europe and the United States<ref>In the United Kingdom, a major market for sugar from the territory, the [[Sugar Duties Act 1846]] also created a considerable downward effect on the price of Caribbean sugar cane.</ref> significantly reduced sugar cane production and led to a period of economic decline.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/>

In 1917, the United States purchased the [[Danish Virgin Islands]] for US$25 million, renaming them the [[United States Virgin Islands]]. Economic linkages with the US islands prompted the British Virgin Islands to adopt the US dollar as its currency in 1959.<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The British Virgin Islands were administered variously as part of the [[British Leeward Islands]] or with [[St. Kitts and Nevis]], with an administrator representing the British Government on the islands.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> The islands gained separate colony status in 1960 and became autonomous in 1967 under the new post of Chief Minister.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> Since the 1960s, the islands have diversified away from their traditionally agriculture-based economy towards tourism and financial services, becoming one of the wealthiest areas in the Caribbean.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> The constitution of the islands was amended in 1977, 2004 and 2007, giving them greater local autonomy.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/>

In 2017 [[Hurricane Irma]] [[Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands|struck the islands]], causing four deaths and immense damage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/11/americas/caribbean-reacts-hurricane-irma/index.html |title=Don't forget about us: Irma's desperate Caribbean survivors |author=Eliza Mackintosh and Donie O'Sullivan |publisher=CNN|date=12 September 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of the British Virgin Islands}}
[[File:GB Virgin Islands.png|thumb|upright=2.25|Map of the British Virgin Islands (Note: Anegada is farther away from the other islands than shown)]]

The British Virgin Islands comprise around 60 tropical Caribbean islands, ranging in size from the largest, Tortola, being {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5|km|0|abbr=on}} wide, to tiny uninhabited [[islet]]s, altogether about {{convert|150|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} in extent. They are located in the [[Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands archipelago]], a few miles east of the [[US Virgin Islands]], and about {{convert|95|km|0|abbr=on}} from the [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]] mainland. About {{convert|150|km|0|abbr=on}} east south-east lies [[Anguilla]]. The [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]] lies to the east of the islands, and the [[Caribbean Sea]] lies to the west. Most of the islands are volcanic in origin and have a hilly, rugged terrain.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> The highest point is [[Mount Sage]] on Tortola at 521m.<ref name="cia.gov"/><ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> Anegada is geologically distinct from the rest of the group, being a flat island composed of limestone and coral.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/><ref name="cia.gov"/> The British Virgin Islands contain the [[Leeward Islands moist forests]] and [[Leeward Islands xeric scrub]] terrestrial ecoregions.<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad|display-authors=1 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |issn=0006-3568 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}}</ref> In the British Virgin Islands [[forest cover]] is around 24% of the total land area, equivalent to 3,620 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 3,710 hectares (ha) in 1990.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, British Virgin Islands |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/VGB/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{Main|Climate of the British Virgin Islands}}
{{wide image|British Virgin Islands WV banner.jpg|1000px}}

The British Virgin Islands have a [[tropical rainforest climate]], moderated by [[trade winds]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> Temperatures vary little throughout the year. In the capital, [[Road Town]], typical daily maxima are around {{convert|32|°C|1}} in the summer and {{convert|29|°C|1}} in the winter. Typical daily minima are around {{convert|26|°C|1}} in the summer and {{convert|23|°C|1}} in the winter. Rainfall averages about {{convert|1150|mm|1|abbr=on}} per year, higher in the hills and lower on the coast. Rainfall can be quite variable, but the wettest months on average are September to November and the driest months on average are February and March.
{{Weather box
| location = Cyril E. King Airport (1991–2020 normals)
|metric first = yes
| single line = Y

| Jan high F = 84.1
| Feb high F = 84.3
| Mar high F = 84.5
| Apr high F = 85.7
| May high F = 87.2
| Jun high F = 88.9
| Jul high F = 89.7
| Aug high F = 89.8
| Sep high F = 89.2
| Oct high F = 88.4
| Nov high F = 86.6
| Dec high F = 85.2
| year high F = 87.0
| Jan mean F = 78.8
| Feb mean F = 78.9
| Mar mean F = 79.1
| Apr mean F = 80.6
| May mean F = 82.3
| Jun mean F = 84.1
| Jul mean F = 84.5
| Aug mean F = 84.7
| Sep mean F = 84.4
| Oct mean F = 83.3
| Nov mean F = 81.6
| Dec mean F = 80.1
| year mean F = 81.9
| Jan low F = 73.6
| Feb low F = 73.5
| Mar low F = 73.8
| Apr low F = 75.5
| May low F = 77.5
| Jun low F = 79.3
| Jul low F = 79.3
| Aug low F = 79.6
| Sep low F = 79.5
| Oct low F = 78.3
| Nov low F = 76.6
| Dec low F = 74.9
| year low F = 76.8

| precipitation colour =
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.64
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.90
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.86
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.24
| May precipitation inch = 3.02
| Jun precipitation inch = 2.35
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.91
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.37
| Sep precipitation inch = 5.89
| Oct precipitation inch = 5.28
| Nov precipitation inch = 6.06
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.93
| year precipitation inch = 41.45
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 15.0
| Feb precipitation days = 13.5
| Mar precipitation days = 10.7
| Apr precipitation days = 10.6
| May precipitation days = 11.9
| Jun precipitation days = 10.9
| Jul precipitation days = 14.8
| Aug precipitation days = 15.8
| Sep precipitation days = 15.2
| Oct precipitation days = 17.3
| Nov precipitation days = 18.5
| Dec precipitation days = 17.4
| year precipitation days = 171.6
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sju |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=VQW00011640&format=pdf |title=Station: Charlotte Amalie AP, VI VQ |work=U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref> {{Failed verification|date=April 2024|reason=These sources are for U.S. virgin Islands, not the British ones, so the data is not reliable}}
}}

===Hurricanes===
Hurricanes occasionally hit the islands, with the [[Atlantic hurricane season]] running from June to November.

====Hurricane Irma====
{{Main|Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands}}
[[File:Main Street Road Town after Hurricane Irma.jpg|thumb|right|Damage in Road Town following Hurricane Irma]]
On 6 September 2017, [[Hurricane Irma]] struck the islands, causing extensive damage, especially on Tortola, and killing four people.<ref name="metro.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/09/07/richard-branson-devastated-about-destruction-wrought-by-hurricane-irma-6911323/ |title=Richard Branson 'devastated' about Hurricane Irma destruction |date=7 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/11/americas/caribbean-reacts-hurricane-irma/index.html |title=Don't forget about us: Irma's desperate Caribbean survivors |author1=Eliza Mackintosh |author2=Donie O'Sullivan |date=11 September 2017 |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/paradise-lost-tortola-seeks-uk-aid-after-irma-11034767 |title=Paradise lost: Tortola seeks UK aid after Irma |publisher=Sky News}}</ref> The [[Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency]] declared a state of emergency.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |date=10 September 2017 |title=British Virgin Islands financial centre hit hard by Irma |url=https://www.ft.com/content/35183356-9609-11e7-b83c-9588e51488a0 |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=Financial Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910165145/https://www.ft.com/content/35183356-9609-11e7-b83c-9588e51488a0 |archive-date=10 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/851705/Hurricane-Irma-path-update-model-track-Virgin-Islands-damage-destruction-video |title=Hurricane Irma damage UPDATE: British Virgin Islands Destroyed by deadly storm |first=Aurora |last=Bosotti |date=8 September 2017 |website=Daily Express}}</ref> Visiting Tortola on 13 September 2017, UK Foreign Secretary [[Boris Johnson]] said that he was reminded of photos of Hiroshima after it had been hit by the atom bomb.<ref name="sky.com">{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-reminded-of-hiroshima-on-visit-to-irma-hit-tortola-11034613 |title=Boris Johnson reminded of Hiroshima on visit to Irma-hit Tortola |publisher=Sky News}}</ref>
[[File:Post Hurricane Maria work starts on BVI MOD 45162994.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hurricane Maria]] struck a week after Hurricane Irma]]
By 8 September, the UK government sent troops with medical supplies and other aid.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/sep/10/hurricane-irma-millions-brace-for-impact-as-superstorm-reaches-florida-live |title=Caribbean in chaos as Irma brings floods to Florida Keys – as it happened |first1=Naaman Zhou |last1=(now) |first2=Alan |last2=Yuhas |first3=Matthew |last3=Weaver |first4=Martin |last4=Farrer |first5=and Martin Pengelly |last5=(earlier) |first6=Ed |last6=Pilkington |date=12 September 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> More troops were expected to arrive a day or two later, but
{{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}}, carrying more extensive assistance, was not expected to reach the islands for another two weeks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/08/royal-navy-arrives-british-virgin-islands-devastated-hurricane/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/08/royal-navy-arrives-british-virgin-islands-devastated-hurricane/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=British response to Hurricane Irma 'found wanting', senior MPs say, as Royal Navy arrives in Caribbean |first1=Ben |last1=Farmer |first2=Steven |last2=Swinford |date=8 September 2017 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Entrepreneur [[Richard Branson]], a resident of [[Necker Island (British Virgin Islands)|Necker Island]], called on the UK government to develop a massive disaster recovery plan to include "both through short-term aid and long-term infrastructure spending".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/sep/10/hurricane-irma-millions-brace-for-impact-as-superstorm-reaches-florida-live |title=Caribbean in chaos as Irma brings floods to Florida Keys – as it happened |first1=Naaman Zhou |last1=(now) |first2=Alan |last2=Yuhas |first3=Matthew |last3=Weaver |first4=Martin |last4=Farrer |first5=and Martin Pengelly |last5=(earlier) |date=12 September 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Premier [[Orlando Smith]] also called for a comprehensive aid package to rebuild the territory. On 10 September UK Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] pledged £32 million to the Caribbean for a hurricane relief fund and promised that the UK government would match donations from the public to the British Red Cross appeal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/11/europe/irma-caribbean/ |title=European leaders step up Irma relief effort in Caribbean |author1=Hilary Clarke |author2=Samantha Beech |date=11 September 2017 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Specifics were not provided to the news media as to the amount that would be allocated to the Virgin Islands.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/10/what-we-know-so-far-about-hurricane-irma |title=What we know so far as Hurricane Irma lashes Florida |first1=Haroon |last1=Siddique |first2=Martin |last2=Pengelly |date=11 September 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Boris Johnson's visit to Tortola on 13 September 2017 during his Caribbean tour was intended to confirm the UK's commitment to helping restore British islands but he provided no additional comments on the aid package.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hurricane-irma-foreign-secretarys-visit-to-the-uk-overseas-territories-in-the-Caribbean |title=Hurricane Irma: Foreign Secretary's visit to the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean – GOV.UK |access-date=13 September 2017 |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231113/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hurricane-irma-foreign-secretarys-visit-to-the-uk-overseas-territories-in-the-caribbean |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bvtnews.com/news/french-british-officials-view-irmas-damage-vow-island-aid.html |title=French, British officials view Irma's damage, vow island aid |date=14 September 2017 |access-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914035407/http://bvtnews.com/news/french-british-officials-view-irmas-damage-vow-island-aid.html |archive-date=14 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He did confirm that HMS ''Ocean'' had departed for the BVI carrying items like timber, buckets, bottled water, food, baby milk, bedding and clothing, as well as ten pick-up trucks, building materials and hardware.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/853902/hurricane-irma-damage-british-virgin-islands-marines-prison-break-caribbean-storm-atlantic |title=Hurricane Irma: British marines hunt Caribbean prison inmates after storm jailbreak |first=Nicole |last=Stinson |date=14 September 2017}}</ref>

The UK offered to underwrite rebuilding loans up to US$400m as long as there was accountability as to how the monies were spent. Successive NDP and VIP governments declined, despite there having been created a Recovery & Development Authority led by highly skilled infrastructure personnel, many of whom were ex-military with decades of infrastructure rebuilding expertise from war zones and natural disaster sites. Many wealthy residents also proposed a large rebuilding plan, starting with key infrastructure, such as the high school. Nearly five years later, there was no sign of any such rebuilding of the high school or certain other key infrastructure.

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of the British Virgin Islands|Elections in the British Virgin Islands}}
[[File:Old LegCo Building, Road Town.jpg|right|thumb|Legislative Council building in [[Road Town]]. The High Court sits upstairs.]]
The territory operates as a [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]].<ref name="cia.gov"/> Ultimate executive authority in the British Virgin Islands is vested in [[Charles III|the King]], and is exercised on his behalf by the [[Governor of the British Virgin Islands]].<ref name="cia.gov"/> The governor is appointed by the King on the advice of the [[British Government]]. Defence and most foreign affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom.<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The [[Constitution of the British Virgin Islands|most recent constitution]] was adopted in 2007 (the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1678/pdfs/uksiem_20071678_en.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1678/pdfs/uksiem_20071678_en.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live|title=Explanatory Memorandum to the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1678/contents/made|title=The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007}}</ref> and came into force when the [[Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands|Legislative Council]] was dissolved for the [[British Virgin Islands general election, 2007|2007 general election]]. The head of government under the constitution is the [[Premier of the British Virgin Islands|Premier]] (before the new constitution the office was referred to as [[Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands|Chief Minister]]), who is elected in a general election along with the other members of the ruling government as well as the members of the opposition. [[Elections in the British Virgin Islands|Elections]] are held roughly every four years. A [[Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands|cabinet]] is nominated by the Premier and appointed and chaired by the Governor. The Legislature consists of the King (represented by the Governor) and a [[unicameral]] [[House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands|House of Assembly]] made up of 13 elected members plus the [[List of Speakers of the House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands|Speaker]] and the [[Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands|Attorney General]].<ref name="cia.gov"/><ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/>
	
The current Governor is [[Daniel Pruce]] (since 29 January 2024).<ref name="cia.gov"/> The current Premier is [[Natalio Wheatley]] (since 5 May 2022), who is leader of the [[Virgin Islands Party]].<ref name="cia.gov"/>

On 8 June 2022, subordinate UK legislation was made allowing for direct rule for the islands.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/627/made The Virgin Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2022 – No. 627]</ref> However, the [[British Government]] decided on that date not to implement direct rule.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 June 2022 |title=British Virgin Islands: UK decides against direct rule of territory |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61736373 |access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref>

===Subdivisions===
{{Main|Districts of the British Virgin Islands}}
The British Virgin Islands is a unitary territory. The territory is divided into nine electoral districts, and each voter is registered in one of those districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 |url=https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref> Eight of the nine districts are partly or wholly on Tortola, and encompass nearby neighbouring islands. Only the ninth district (Virgin Gorda and Anegada) does not include any part of Tortola. At elections, in addition to voting their local representative, voters also cast votes for four candidates who are elected upon an at-large territory-wide basis.

===Law and criminal justice===
{{Main|Law of the British Virgin Islands}}

Crime in the British Virgin Islands is comparatively low by Caribbean standards. While statistics and hard data are relatively rare, and are not regularly published by governmental sources in the British Virgin Islands, the then-Premier did announce that in 2013 there was a 14% decline in recorded crime compared to 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://bvinews.com/bvi/crimes-down-by-14-premier/ |title=Crimes down by 14% – Premier |work=BVI News |date=13 January 2014 |access-date=14 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115073559/http://bvinews.com/bvi/crimes-down-by-14-premier/ |archive-date=15 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Homicides are rare,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/how-safe-caribbean-island-island-look-386480 |title=How safe is the Caribbean? An Island by Island Look |website=International Business Times |date=22 December 2011}}</ref> with just one incident recorded in 2013.

The Virgin Islands Prison Service operates a single facility, His Majesty's Prison in East End, Tortola.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bvi.gov.vg/departments/her-majestys-prison |title=Her Majesty's Prison |publisher=Government of the British Virgin Islands |access-date=21 January 2020 |quote=Her Majesty's Prison P.O. Box 627 East End, Tortola Virgin Islands (British) VG1120}}</ref>

The British and US Virgin Islands sit at the axis of a major drugs transshipment point between Latin America and the continental United States.<ref name="cia.gov"/> The American [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] regards the adjacent US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands as a "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bvibeacon.com/2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1674:special-report-us-sees-shift-in-cocaine-trafficking&catid=68:special-reports&Itemid=60 |title=US sees shift in cocaine trafficking |publisher=[[BVI Beacon]] |date=9 February 2012}}</ref>

===Military===
{{Main|Military of the British Virgin Islands}}
As a British Overseas territory, defence of the islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.<ref name="cia.gov"/>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of the British Virgin Islands}}
[[File:Roadtown, Tortola.jpg|right|thumb|[[Road Town]], Tortola, British Virgin Islands]]

The twin pillars of the economy are financial services (60%) and tourism (roughly 40–45% of GDP).<ref name="www2.bviplatinum.com">{{cite web |url=http://www2.bviplatinum.com/news.php?module=news&page=Article&articleID=1268586 |title=New Company Incorporations Down But Premier Remains Optimistic |date=14 March 2010 |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103181916/http://www2.bviplatinum.com/news.php?module=news&page=Article&articleID=1268586 |archive-date=3 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="cia.gov"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Virgin-Islands |title=Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI |access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref>

Economically however, financial services associated with the territory's status as an [[offshore financial centre]] are by far the more important.<ref name="ReferenceD"/> 51.8% of the Government's revenue comes directly from licence fees for offshore companies, and considerable further sums are raised directly or indirectly from payroll taxes relating to salaries paid within the trust industry sector (which tend to be higher on average than those paid in the tourism sector).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bvi.gov.vg/content/our-economy |title=Government of the Virgin Islands- Our Economy |access-date=16 May 2021}}</ref> According to Transparency International, the British Virgin Islands is one of the top incorporation hubs for anonymous companies used to conceal assets and stolen funds.<ref name=":0" />

The official currency of the British Virgin Islands has been the [[United States dollar]] (US$) since 1959, the currency also used by the [[United States Virgin Islands]].<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The British Virgin Islands enjoys one of the more prosperous economies of the Caribbean region, with a per capita average income of around $47,000 (2022 est.)<ref>[https://unstats.un.org/unsd/snaama/Basic], (Select all countries, "GDP, Per Capita GDP – US Dollars", and "2022" to generate the table), [[United Nations Statistics Division]]. Access date: 18 June 2024.</ref>

Although it is common to hear criticism in the British Virgin Islands' press about [[List of countries by income equality|income inequality]], no serious attempt has been made by economists to calculate a [[Gini coefficient]] or similar measure of income equality for the territory. A report from 2000 suggested that, despite the popular perception, income inequality was actually lower in the British Virgin Islands than in any other [[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States|OECS state]],<ref>{{cite book |title=European Bloc Imperialism |author=Dennis C. Canterbury |isbn=978-9004184954 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LDVxPHu-R64C&pg=PA226 |year=2010|publisher=BRILL }}</ref> although in global terms income equality is higher in the Caribbean than in many other regions.

===Tourism===
[[File:TheBaths VirginGorda BVI.jpg|right|thumb|[[The Baths]], Virgin Gorda]]

Tourism accounts for approximately 45% of national income.<ref name="www2.bviplatinum.com"/> The islands are a popular destination for US citizens.<ref name="www2.bviplatinum.com"/> Tourists frequent the numerous white sand beaches, visit [[The Baths|The Baths on Virgin Gorda]], [[Snorkeling|snorkel]] the [[coral reef]]s near Anegada, or experience the well-known bars of Jost Van Dyke. The BVI are known as one of the world's greatest sailing destinations, and charter sailboats are a very popular way to visit less accessible islands. Established in 1972,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w4zVqigPxnkC&dq=BVI+Spring+Regatta+and+Sailing+Festival+Established+in+%221972%22&pg=RA3-PA18 |title=Cruising World |language=en}}</ref> the BVI hosts the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=News |url=http://www.bvispringregatta.org |website=BVI Sprint Regatta & Sailing Festival |access-date=11 March 2020}}</ref> A substantial number of the tourists who visit the BVI are [[cruise ship]] passengers, and although they produce far lower revenue per head than charter boat tourists and hotel based tourists, they are nonetheless important to the substantial – and politically important – taxi driving community.

===Financial services===
Financial services account for over half of the income of the territory. The majority of this revenue is generated by the licensing of [[offshore company|offshore companies]] and related services. The British Virgin Islands is a significant global player in the [[offshore financial centre|offshore financial services industry]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Review of Financial Regulation in the Crown Dependencies (Cmnd Paper 4855 of 2000) |year=2000 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-financial-regulation-in-the-crown-dependencies--2 |publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information|HMSO]] |at=Part III, paragraph 1.3 |isbn=0-10-148554-9 |access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> Since 2001, financial services in the British Virgin Islands have been regulated by the independent [[British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission|Financial Services Commission]].

The BVI is relied upon for its sophisticated Commercial Court division of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, as well as the more recent BVI Arbitration Centre. Caribbean KCs and British KCs preside over the majority of important cases and the laws of the Virgin Islands are based on English laws, meaning the jurisdiction provides clarity and consistency should parties require commercial disputes to be resolved. Owing to the international nature of BVI companies' operations and asset holdings, the BVI Commercial Court routinely hears highly sophisticated matters at the cutting edge of cross-border litigation and enforcement, where billions of dollars are at issue.

[[Citco]], also known as the Citco Group of Companies and the Curaçao International Trust Co., is a privately owned global [[hedge fund]] [[Business administration|administrator]] headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, founded in 1948.<ref name="auto9">Halah Touryalai (6 April 2011). [https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0425/features-citco-hedge-fund-keunen-protection-racket.html "Protection Racket,"] ''Forbes''.</ref> It is the world's largest hedge fund administrator, managing over $1 trillion in assets under administration.<ref name="auto6">{{cite web |url=https://www.globallegalchronicle.com/firefighters-retirement-system-v-citco-group-limited/ |title=Firefighters' Retirement System v. Citco Group Limited |work=Global Legal Chronicle |author=Ambrogio Visconti |date=4 March 2019}}</ref>

In May 2022, the banking sector of the British Virgin Islands comprised only seven commercial banks<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bvifsc.vg/regulated-entities-banking-fiduciary?combine=&field_entity_status_tid%5B%5D=72 |title=Banking & Fiduciary  |publisher=British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission |date=12 October 2017 |accessdate=7 May 2022}}</ref> and one restricted bank, 12 authorised custodians, two licensed money services businesses and one licensed financing service provider.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bvifsc.vg/flipbook/Annual%20Report%202012%20(Final)/index.html |title=Annual Report 2012 (Final) |work=bvifsc.vg |access-date=3 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071747/http://www.bvifsc.vg/flipbook/Annual%20Report%202012%20(Final)/index.html |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The British Virgin Islands is frequently referred to as a "[[tax haven]]" by campaigners and NGOs, including Oxfam.  Successive governments in the British Virgin Islands have implemented tax exchange agreements and verified beneficial ownership information of companies following the [[39th G8 summit|2013 G8 summit]] putting their governance and regulatory regimes far ahead of many "onshore" jurisdictions.

On 10 September 2013, British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] said "I do not think it is fair any longer to refer to any of the Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies as tax havens. They have taken action to make sure that they have fair and open tax systems. It is very important that our focus should now shift to those territories and countries that really are tax havens."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.international-adviser.com/news/tax---regulation/jersey-guernsey-iom-revel-in |title=Jersey, Guernsey, IoM revel in Cameron's 'not tax havens' comments |author=International Adviser |date=12 September 2013 |access-date=17 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117144834/http://www.international-adviser.com/news/tax---regulation/jersey-guernsey-iom-revel-in |archive-date=17 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-24034768 |title=David Cameron: Crown dependency tax haven banner 'not fair' |publisher=BBC News |date=10 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ifcreview.com/articles/2022/march/an-ill-wind/|title=An Ill Wind|website=IFC Review}}</ref> Yet journalist and author for The Economist, Nicholas Shaxson, writes in his 2016 ''Treasure Islands, tax havens and the men who stole the world'': "...Britain sits, spider-like, at the centre of a vast international web of tax havens, which hoover up trillions of dollars' worth of business and capital from around the globe and funnel it up to the City of London.  The British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories – ...the British Virgin Islands... are some of the biggest players in the offshore world."(pp. vii-viii) Shaxson points out that despite BVI having fewer than 25000 inhabitants, hosts over 800,000 companies.

In the April 2016 [[Panama Papers]] leak, while all of the wrongdoing by Mossack Fonseca personnel occurred in Panama and the US, the British Virgin Islands was by far the most commonly-used jurisdiction by clients of [[Mossack Fonseca]].<ref name=Poroshenko>{{Cite news |first=Yuras |last=Karmanau |title=Ukrainian president under fire over Panama Papers |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/11aba2aa8d6f474895162f144836728a/ukrainian-president-under-fire-over-panama-papers |agency=Associated Press |date=4 April 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016 |archive-date=6 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406024921/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/11aba2aa8d6f474895162f144836728a/ukrainian-president-under-fire-over-panama-papers |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2022, the verified nature of beneficial ownership registers of the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies were a crucial tool in giving effect to [[International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctions against Russia and Belarus]], enabling the efficient identification and seizure of yachts, real estate and businesses.

====Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act====
On 30 June 2014, The British Virgin Islands<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx |title=Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) |website=treasury.gov}}</ref> was deemed to have an Inter- Governmental Agreement (IGA) with the United States of America with respect to the "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act" of the United States of America.

The Model 1 Agreement (14 Pages)<ref name="USBVI">{{cite web |url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Documents/FATCA-Agreement-BVI-6-30-2014.pdf |title=Agreement Between the Government of the British Virgin Islands to Improve Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA |website=treasury.gov |access-date=28 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712105904/http://www.treasury.gov:80/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Documents/FATCA-Agreement-BVI-6-30-2014.pdf |archive-date=12 July 2014}}</ref> recognises that: ''The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland provided a copy of the Letter of Entrustment which was sent to the Government of the British Virgin Islands, to the Government of the United States of America "via diplomatic note of 28 May 2014".''

The Letter of Entrustment dated 14 July 2010 was originally provided to the Government of the British Virgin Islands and authorised the Government of the BVI "to negotiate and conclude Agreements relating to taxation that provide for exchange of information on tax matters to the OECD standard" (Paragraph 2 of the FATCA Agreement). Via an "Entrustment Letter" dated 24 March 2014, The Government of the United Kingdom, authorised the Government of the BVI to sign an agreement on information exchange to facilitate the Implementation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.<ref name="USBVI"/> On 27 March 2017, the US Treasury site disclosed that the Model 1 agreement and related agreement were "In Force" on 13 July 2015.

====Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act====
Under the UK Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2018, beneficial ownership of companies in British overseas territories such as the British Virgin Islands must be publicly registered for disclosure by 31 December 2020.<ref name=kmppvap>{{cite web |url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/overseas-territories-to-fight-public-register-demands/5066370.article |title=Overseas territories to fight public register demands |first=Max |last=Walters2018-06-06T10:19:00+01:00 |website=Law Gazette}}</ref> The Government of the British Virgin Islands has not yet formally challenged this law, yet has criticised it, noting that it violates the Constitutional sovereignty granted to the islands, and would in practice be relatively ineffective in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, while raising serious privacy and human rights issues. Further, this would put the British Virgin Islands in a position where it would be at a severe disadvantage because other International Finance Centres do not have this in place, and in the case of the US and the UK, there is very little near-term prospect of the same.<ref name=kmppvap />

In late 2022, both of the US and EU appeared to have endorsed the British Overseas Territories' beneficial ownership register regimes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harneys.com/our-blogs/regulatory/european-court-of-justice-rules-on-beneficial-owner-registers/|title=European Court of Justice rules on Beneficial Owner Registers &#124; Regulatory Blog|website=Harneys}}</ref> In a judgement dated 22 November 2022, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has at last decided that open public access to the beneficial owner registers of EU member state companies is no longer valid, as it is in contravention of articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter). The US appears to have come to a similar conclusion regarding balancing confidentiality and legitimate privacy with the Anti-Money Laundering advantages of having verified beneficial ownerships registers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/fincen-issues-nprm-regarding-access-to-1804315/|title=FinCEN Issues NPRM Regarding Access to Beneficial Ownership Information and Related Safeguards|website=JD Supra}}</ref> The resultant goal appears to be to bring the US in line with the current Cayman and BVI regimes. The UK's Crown Dependencies have already stated that they will not implement public registers without beforehand having received fresh legal advice on the matter and it is thought that the Overseas Territories would logically take a similar position. The UK is yet to come out in support of the BOTs and CDs and their current gold standard regulatory positions.

===Agriculture and industry===
Agriculture and industry account for only a small proportion of the islands' GDP.<ref name="cia.gov"/> Agricultural produce includes fruit, vegetables, sugar cane, livestock and poultry, and industries include rum distillation, construction and boat building. Commercial fishing is also practised in the islands' waters.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/>

===Workforce===
The British Virgin Islands is heavily dependent on migrant workers, and over 50% of all workers on the islands are of a foreign descent. Only 37% of the entire population were born in the territory.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> The national labour-force is estimated at 12,770, of whom approximately 59.4% work in the service sector but less than 0.6% are estimated to work in agriculture (the balance working in industry).<ref name="The Times">{{cite web |url=http://bcg.thetimes.co.uk/North_America/British_Virgin_Islands#workforce |title=British Virgin Islands – workforce |work=[[The Times]] |access-date=19 March 2012 |archive-date=7 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107130157/http://bcg.thetimes.co.uk/North_America/British_Virgin_Islands#workforce |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="cia.gov"/> The British Virgin Islands has met challenges in recruiting sufficient numbers in recent years, having been affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria, and having continued to lag behind other jurisdictions in providing a reliable permanent residence regime. This has had a knock-on effect in limiting schooling and amenities when compared to IFCs like Cayman, UAE, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

====CARICOM status and the CARICOM Single Market Economy====
As of 2 July 1991, the British Virgin Islands holds Associate Member status in [[CARICOM Single Market and Economy|CARICOM, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME)]].<ref>{{cite web |author=CARICOM Secretariat |title=Country Profiles – British Virgin Islands |url=https://caricom.org/country_profiles/british-virgin-islands/ |website=CARICOM – Caribbean Community |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://caricom.org/ |title=Caribbean Community (CARICOM) |author=CARICOM Secretariat |website=caricom.org}}</ref>

In recognition of the CARICOM (Free Movement) Skilled Persons Act which came into effect in July 1997 in some of the CARICOM countries such as Jamaica and which has been adopted in other CARICOM countries,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlss.gov.jm/pub/index.php?artid=43 |title=Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) |website=Ministry of Labour and Social Security}}</ref> such as Trinidad and Tobago,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://immigration.gov.tt/Services/CSME.aspx |title=CSME |website=Immigration Division Ministry of National Security |access-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135453/http://immigration.gov.tt/Services/CSME.aspx |archive-date=26 March 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How to Apply for a CARICOM Skills Certificate |url=http://www.caribbeanjobs.com/careers/page/How-to-Apply-for-a-CARICOM-Skills-Certificate.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326052005/http://www.caribbeanjobs.com/careers/page/How-to-Apply-for-a-CARICOM-Skills-Certificate.aspx |archive-date=26 March 2017 |url-status=dead |website=Caribbeanjobs.com |access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref> it is possible that CARICOM nationals who hold the "A Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skilled Person" may be allowed to work in the BVI under normal working conditions.

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in the British Virgin Islands}}
[[File:Tortola-airport.jpg|thumb|right|Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island]]
There are {{convert|113|km|mi|0}} of roads. The main airport, [[Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport]], also known as Beef Island Airport, is located on Beef Island, which lies off the eastern tip of Tortola and is accessible by the [[Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, British Virgin Islands|Queen Elizabeth II Bridge]]. [[Cape Air]], and [[Air Sunshine]] are among the airlines offering scheduled service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bviaa.com/airlines |title=Airlines-BVI Airport |website=bviaa.com |access-date=20 September 2019 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920201418/http://www.bviaa.com/airlines |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Virgin Gorda Airport|Virgin Gorda]] and [[Auguste George Airport|Anegada]] have their own smaller airports. Private air charter services operated by Island Birds Air Charter fly directly to all three islands from any major airport in the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.islandbirds.com/destinations/ |title=Private Air Charter throughout the entire Caribbean. |website=Island Birds |language=en-US |access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> Helicopters are used to get to islands with no runway facilities; Antilles Helicopter Services is the only helicopter service based in the country.

The main harbour is in [[Road Town]]. There are also ferries that operate within the British Virgin Islands and to the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands. Cars in the British Virgin Islands [[Right- and left-hand traffic|drive on the left]] just as they do in the United Kingdom and the United States Virgin Islands. However, most cars are [[left hand drive]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/british-virgin-islands/safety-and-security |title=British Virgin Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom}}</ref> because they are from the United States. The roads are often quite steep, narrow and winding, and ruts, mudslides and rockfall can be a problem when it rains.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of the British Virgin Islands}}
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the territory was 28,054.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Estimates put the population at 35,800 (July 2018) yet in 2022, it is thought to be much less than 30,000 post-Irma and with people having left during COVID lockdowns due to unemployment in the tourism industry.<ref name="cia.gov"/> The majority of the population (76.9%) are [[wikt:Afro-Caribbean|Afro-Caribbean]], descended from slaves brought to the islands by the British.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> Other large ethnic groups include [[Hispanic|Latinos]] (5.6%), those of [[White people|European]] ancestry (5.4%), [[Multiracial|Mixed]] ancestry (5.4%) and Indian (2.1%).<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The 2010 Census reports:
*76.9% [[Afro-Caribbean|African]]
*5.6% [[Hispanic]]
*5.4% [[White people|European/Caucasian]]
*5.4% [[Multiracial|Mixed]]
*2.1% [[Indo-Caribbean|East Indian]]
*4.6% Others*
{{Smaller|*Includes [[Chinese people|Chinese]], [[Indigenous people of the Americas|Carib/Amerindian]], [[Filipinos]] and [[Arabs]]}}

The 2010 Census reports the main places of origin of residents as follows:<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
*39.1% local born (though many locals go to St. Thomas or the United States for maternity services)<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Government of the Virgin Islands |url=https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/virgin_islands_population_and_housing_census_2010.pdf#page=28&zoom=100,92,98 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/virgin_islands_population_and_housing_census_2010.pdf#page=28&zoom=100,92,98 |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=Virgin Islands 2010 Population and Housing Census Report |year=2010 |location=Virgin Islands |page=63 |access-date= 27 October 2021}}</ref>
*7.2% Guyana
*7.0% St. Vincent and the Grenadines
*6.0% Jamaica
*5.5% United States
*5.4% Dominican Republic
*5.3% United States Virgin Islands

The islands are heavily dependent upon migrant labour. In 2004, migrant workers accounted for 50% of the total population.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=18 March 2009 |title=Managing Highly-Skilled Labour Migration |journal=OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers |doi=10.1787/225505346577 |issn=1815-199X|doi-access=free}}</ref> 32% of workers employed in the British Virgin Islands work for the government.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Skilled labour migration from developing countries study on the Caribbean Region |author=Thomas-Hope, Elizabeth |date=2002 |publisher=International Migration Programme, International Labour Office |isbn=92-2-113282-X |oclc=493627212}}</ref> In the late 2000s the first [[Overseas Filipino Worker]] came to the British Virgin Islands, by 2020 total [[Filipinos in the United Kingdom|British Filipino]] population was about 800.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Freeman |date=27 August 2020 |title=In BVI, Pandemic Hits Filipinos Hard |url=https://www.cijn.org/in-bvi-pandemic-leaves-many-filipinos-in-limbo/ |access-date=24 October 2023 |work=Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network}}</ref>

Unusually, the territory has one of the highest drowning mortality rates in the world, being higher than other high-risk countries such as China and India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.usla.org/resource/resmgr/lifeguard_library/drowningfactsheetwhosep03.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.usla.org/resource/resmgr/lifeguard_library/drowningfactsheetwhosep03.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live|title="Drowning", publication World Health Organization}}</ref> 20% of deaths in the British Virgin Islands during 2012 were recorded as drownings,<ref name="ReferenceA">The BVI Beacon, Thursday, 15 August 2013 article entitled "Report: Passports up, marriages down last year".</ref><ref>Annual Report of the Civil Registry and Passport Office for 2012 which includes "For the 20 per cent that represented drowning, all were tourists who died from snorkelling or diving in the VI waters in and around caves at [[Norman Island]], as well as near [[Virgin Gorda]]...The Virgin Islands should, therefore put safety measures in place such as the dissemination of information to hotels, dive shops and marinas." The same report confirms that the deaths of 86 persons were recorded in the territory during 2012.</ref> all of them being tourists. Despite this, the territory's most popular beach still has no lifeguard presence.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/no-lifeguards-at-cane-garden-bay-virgin-gorda-beaches |title=No lifeguards at Cane Garden Bay & Virgin Gorda beaches |work=virginislandsnewsonline.com}}</ref>

===Religion===
[[File:Jost Van Dyke Methodist Church 2010.jpg|thumb|right|Jost Van Dyke Methodist Church in 2010]]
[[File:Jost Van Dyke Methodist Church 2019.jpg|thumb|right|Jost Van Dyke Methodist Church in 2019, after Hurricane Irma]]

Over 90% of the population who indicated a religious affiliation at the 2010 Census were Christian<ref name="ReferenceC">The BVI Beacon "Portrait of a population: 2010 Census published" pg. 6, 20 November 2014</ref><ref name="2010census">{{cite book  |title=Virgin Islands 2010 Population and Housing Census Report |pages=58–61 |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/wphc/BVI/VGB-2016-09-08.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115023253/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/wphc/BVI/VGB-2016-09-08.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref> with the largest individual Christian denominations being [[Methodist]] (17.6%),<ref name="ReferenceC"/> [[Anglican]] (9.5%), [[Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)|Church of God]] (10.4%), Seventh-Day Adventists (9.0%) and [[Roman Catholic]] (8.9%).<ref name=ReferenceB /><ref name="2010census"/> The largest non-Christian faiths in 2010 were Hinduism (1.9%) and Islam (0.9%).<ref name="2010census"/> However [[Hindus]] and [[Muslim]]s constitute each approximately 1.2% of the population according to Word Religion Database 2005.<ref>cited in {{cite web |url=http://pewforum.org/uploadedfiles/Topics/Demographics/Muslimpopulation.pdf |title=Mapping the Global Muslim Population |publisher=[[Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life]] |year=2009 |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727173718/http://pewforum.org/uploadedfiles/Topics/Demographics/Muslimpopulation.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Constitution of the British Virgin Islands]] commences with a professed national belief in [[God]].<ref>The second paragraphs of the recitals (appearing between Article 1 and Article 2) contains the words: "[T]he society of the Virgin Islands is based upon certain moral, spiritual and democratic values including a belief in God".</ref> 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion by % of population<br />(National Census 2010)<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
! Denomination
! 2010
! 2001
! 1991
|-
| Methodist || 17.6 || 22.7 || 32.9
|-
| Church of God || 10.4 || 11.4 || 9.2
|-
| Anglican || 9.5 || 11.6 || 16.7
|-
| Seventh Day Adventist || 9.0 || 8.4 || 6.3
|-
| Roman Catholic || 8.9 || 9.5 || 10.5
|-
| Pentecostal || 8.2 || 9.1 || 4.1
|-
| None || 7.9 || 6.4 || 3.6
|-
| Baptist || 7.4 || 8.2 || 4.7
|-
| Other || 4.1 || 3.4 || 4.4
|-
| Jehovah's Witnesses || 2.5 || 2.2 || 2.1
|-
| Not stated || 2.4 || 2.7 || 1.1
|-
| Hindu || 1.9 || 2.0 || 2.2
|-
| Muslim || 0.9 || 0.9 || 0.6
|-
| Evangelical || 0.7 || 0.5 || –
|-
| Rastafarian || 0.6 || 0.4 || 0.2
|-
| Moravian|| 0.3 || 0.5 || 0.6
|-
| Presbyterian|| 0.2 || 0.4 || 0.7
|-
| Buddhist|| 0.2 || - || -
|-
| Jewish|| 0.04 || - || -
|-
| Bahai || 0.04 || 0.03 || 0.00
|-
| Brethren || - || 0.03 || 0.04
|-
| Salvation Army || - || 0.03 || 0.04
|}

==Education==
{{main|Education in the British Virgin Islands}}
The British Virgin Islands operates several government schools as well as private schools. There is also a community college, [[H. Lavity Stoutt Community College]], that is located on the eastern end of Tortola. This college was named after [[Lavity Stoutt]], the first Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands.<ref>[http://www.bvi.gov.vg/products.asp?iProd=35&iCat=12&hierarchy=0 British Virgin Islands Schools] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723081334/http://www.bvi.gov.vg/products.asp?iProd=35&iCat=12&hierarchy=0 |date=23 July 2009 }}, BVI Government website</ref> There remains segregation in the school system; while BVIslander and [[Belonger]] children make up a significant proportion of pupils in private schools, Non-Belongers are prohibited from attending government schools. It is extremely common for students from the British Virgin Islands to travel overseas for secondary and tertiary education, either to the [[University of the West Indies]], or to colleges and universities in either the United Kingdom, United States or Canada. Coaching in certain sports, such as athletics, squash and football is of a high level.

The literacy rate in the British Virgin Islands is high at 98%.<ref name="The Times"/>

There is a [[University of the West Indies]] Open campus in the territory and a Marine Science educational facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://open.uwi.edu/british_virgin_islands |title=The Open Campus in British Virgin Islands – Open Campus |website=open.uwi.edu}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of the Virgin Islands}}

===Language===
{{Main|Virgin Islands Creole}}
The primary language is English, although there is a [[Virgin Islands Creole|local dialect]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – BVI"/> Spanish is spoken by [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]], [[People of the Dominican Republic|Dominican]] and other Hispanic immigrants.

===Music===
{{Main|Music of the Virgin Islands}}

The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands is called ''fungi'' after the local [[cornmeal]] dish with the same name, often made with [[okra]]. The special sound of fungi is due to a unique local fusion between African and European music. The fungi bands, also called "scratch bands", use instruments ranging from [[calabash]], washboard, [[Bongo drum|bongos]] and [[ukulele]], to more traditional western instruments like keyboard, banjo, guitar, bass, triangle and saxophone. Apart from being a form of festive dance music, fungi often contains humorous social commentaries, as well as BVI oral history.<ref>Penn, Dexter J.A. [http://dexterpenn.smugmug.com/gallery/4068409 Music of the British Virgin Islands: Fungi] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20120526214319/http://dexterpenn.smugmug.com/gallery/4068409 |date=26 May 2012 }}. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref>

===Sport===
{{See also|Cricket in the West Indies|Football in the British Virgin Islands}}
Because of its location and climate, the British Virgin Islands has long been a haven for sailing enthusiasts. Sailing is regarded as one of the foremost sports in all of the BVI. Calm waters and steady breezes provide some of the best sailing conditions in the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Best Sailing |url=http://www.frommers.com/destinations/caribbean/0217020116.html |access-date=16 December 2011 |archive-date=6 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206110721/http://www.frommers.com/destinations/caribbean/0217020116.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Many sailing events are held in the waters of this country, the largest of which is a week-long series of races called the Spring Regatta, the premier sailing event of the Caribbean, with several races hosted each day. Boats include everything from full-size mono-hull yachts to dinghies. Captains and their crews come from all around the world to attend these races. The Spring Regatta is part race, part party, part festival. The Spring Regatta is normally held during the first week of April.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vacationtortola.com/Yacht-Races.html |title=Yacht Races |work=vacationtortola.com}}</ref>

Since 2009, the BVI have made a name for themselves as a host of international basketball events. The BVI hosted three of the last four events of the [[Caribbean Basketball Championship]] (''FIBA CBC Championship'').<ref>{{cite web |title=VI set to host 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships |url=http://bviolympics.org/vi-set-to-host-2015-caribbean-basketball-confederation-championships/ |website=bviolympics.org |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Caribbean|United Kingdom}}
*[[List of British Virgin Islanders]]
*[[Outline of the British Virgin Islands]]

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=British Virgin Islands|British Virgin Islands}}
; Directories
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080703234346/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/britishvirginisles.htm British Virgin Islands] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''

; NGO sources
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/trust3.htm |title=Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002 |publisher=United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization |access-date=10 March 2005}}
{{refend}}

; Official websites and overviews
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101126111940/http://www.bvi.gov.vg/ Government of the British Virgin Islands official website]
*[http://www.bvi.org.uk/ British Virgin Islands – London Office]
*[http://www.oghm.org/ Old Government House Museum, British Virgin Islands]
*[http://www.bvitourism.com/ British Virgin Islands Tourist Board]
*[http://bvifinance.vg/language/en-GB/Home Home]
*[http://www.bvinationalparkstrust.org/ National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands]—Official site
*[http://www.bvifsc.vg/ British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission]—Official site
*[http://www.bviports.org/ The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority]—Official site
*[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/british-virgin-islands/ British Virgin Islands]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].

; Wikimedia content
*{{Wikiatlas|British Virgin Islands}}

{{British Virgin Islands}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to the British Virgin Islands
|list = 
{{Navboxes
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|25px]]{{nbsp}}Geographic locale
|list = 
'''[[Geographic coordinate system|Lat. <small>and</small> Long.]] {{Coord|18|25|53|N|64|37|23|W|display=inline}} <span style="color:darkblue;">(Road Town)</span>'''
{{Countries of North America}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = International membership
|list = 
{{Caribbean Community (CARICOM)|state=collapsed}}
{{Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)|state=collapsed}}
{{British dependencies}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries|state=collapsed}}
{{British overseas territories}}
}}
{{English dialects by continent}}
{{English official language clickable map}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|18|26|42|N|64|32|24|W|display=title}}

[[Category:British Virgin Islands| ]]
[[Category:Dependent territories in the Caribbean]]
[[Category:British Overseas Territories|.British Virgin]]
[[Category:Virgin Islands]]
[[Category:British Leeward Islands]]
[[Category:British West Indies]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:Former Dutch colonies]]
[[Category:Member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]]
[[Category:Small Island Developing States]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1672]]
[[Category:1672 establishments in the British Empire]]
[[Category:1672 establishments in North America]]
[[Category:1670s establishments in the Caribbean]]