The British Virgin Islands – or just the Virgin Islands – is a British Overseas Territory that is located in Caribbean. This territory is made up of four main islands: Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda. There are also another 50 smaller islands making up this region, although about 35 are completely uninhabited.
The total area of all of the British Virgin Islands is about 59 square miles. With a population of 30,661 based on UN estimates in 2016, there isn’t a large population. However, based on size, the population density is quite high with about 673 people per square mile.
The capital city is Road Town, which is located on Tortola, the largest island. In addition to being the capital, Road Town is also the largest city by population with over 12,000 inhabitants in 2012.
The inhabitants of the British Virgin Islands are not just British Overseas Territories citizens, but they are also citizens Britain and the European Union. It is important to note, however, that the British Virgin Islands themselves aren’t members of the EU.
Approximately 83% of the inhabitants of the Virgin Islands are African. Minority races in the area include Caucasians, mixed-race Hispanics, and Indians, just to name a few.
Over one-third of the population was born in the Virgin Islands. However, there are inhabitants with origins from other regions of the world, including Jamaica, the United States, and Guyana.
The Virgin Islands enjoy one of the best economies in the Caribbean and have a per capita income of over $42,000. The average monthly income is about $2,452, and less than 30% of the total population is classified as “low income.” Tourism is a heavy contributor to the territory’s economy. The financial services sector is also extremely important, as this region is considered a tax haven.