Photo: Jackie · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
British Virgin Islands places highest on Employment Injury Protection Coverage (top 4% worldwide) and lowest on Municipal Solid Waste Generation (bottom 1%).
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British Virgin Islands in the Nations Inquiry Country Index
British Virgin Islands appears in 87 of the statistics tracked here, but is not placed in the Country Index: the index needs a standing on three quarters of its topics, and British Virgin Islands is measured on too few of them. Every published reading below is unaffected.
At a glance
Population
38,985
people
since 1950
Land area
151
km²
since 1961
Life expectancy
77.28
years at birth
since 1950
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
About British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands are a scatter of steep green islands and cays around the Sir Francis Drake Channel in the north-eastern Caribbean. A British Overseas Territory, they pass their own laws in an elected House of Assembly, while a governor keeps defence and foreign affairs. Tortola climbs to Sage Mountain; Virgin Gorda ends in the Baths, granite boulders piled into grottoes on the beach; and flat, coral Anegada is encircled by Horseshoe Reef, a graveyard of ships.
Columbus sailed by in 1493 and named the islands for Saint Ursula and her legendary eleven thousand virgins. Dutch privateers, among them Joost van Dyk, held footholds in the seventeenth century before the English took Tortola in 1672. Planters grew sugar and cotton with enslaved labour, and Quakers settled; William Thornton, born to a Quaker family on Jost Van Dyke in 1759, later designed the United States Capitol. The Leeward Islands federation was dissolved in 1956, and the islands became a separate colony in 1960.
Fungi, a scratch-band music of washboard, gourd, ukulele and drum, is the islands’ own, and shares its name with the cornmeal served beside fish. The Emancipation Festival fills late July and early August with parades. A company law of 1984 made the territory a centre for registering offshore firms, whose fees fund most of its government, while charter yachts and resorts bring in the rest. Anegada lobster grilled on the beach ends many a sailing day.
Key facts about British Virgin Islands
- Capital
- Road Town
- Official language
- English
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- ISO code
- VGB · VG
- Domain · dialling
- .vg · +1284
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Where it stands, topic by topic
Strongest first. Each position is British Virgin Islands’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
77thof 200
From 2 of 4 key statistics
90thof 177
From 2 of 4 key statistics
161stof 198
From 3 of 4 key statistics
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — British Virgin Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for British Virgin Islands’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for British Virgin Islands in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
Where British Virgin Islands stands out
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which British Virgin Islands sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
Where British Virgin Islands does best5
In the top third of all countries measured. 1 is within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
- 5th
Position · derived 88th of 92 · 1 = worst · 10.29 · 2024
world median 20.67 (better) · ▲ 7 pts since 2014
Not ranked by the publisher · 100 · 2024
world median 45.9 (better)
- PM2.5 Air Pollution Exposuretop 12%
Position · derived 193rd of 220 · 1 = worst · 6 · 2023
world median 14.45 (better)
- Container Import Dwell Timetop 12%
Position · derived 136th of 156 · 1 = worst · 2.2 · 2024
world median 4.4 (better)
Not ranked by the publisher · 1.487 · 2024
world median 2.738 (better) · ▲ 6 pts since 2014
Where British Virgin Islands struggles most5
In the bottom third of all countries measured. 2 are within ten places of the worst in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
- 1stMunicipal Solid Waste Generationbottom 1%
Position · derived 1st of 201 · 1 = worst · 4.176 · 2026
world median 0.966 (worse)
- 7thOut-of-School Rate, Primarybottom 5%
Position · derived 7th of 121 · 1 = worst · 26.97 · 2024
world median 3.691 (worse) · ▼ 29 pts since 2014
- Child and Family Benefit Coveragebottom 2%
Not ranked by the publisher · 0 · 2024
world median 23.75 (worse)
- Liner Shipping Connectivity Indexbottom 6%
Rank 162nd of 175 · 11.79 · 2026
world median 56.21 (worse) · ▼ 11 pts since 2016
- Secondary School Enrolmentbottom 16%
Position · derived 92nd of 109 · 75.58 · 2024
world median 93.19 (worse) · ▼ 41 pts since 2014
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so British Virgin Islands can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04In context
British Virgin Islands and its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking, not within the region.
Shares a land border with
British Virgin Islands has no land border with another country.
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world.
- 67
Barbados - 68
Saint Lucia - =71
Dominican Republic - =71
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - =76
Jamaica - 81
Antigua and Barbuda - 85
Grenada - 90
Trinidad and Tobago - =104
Bahamas - 119
Cuba - 173
Haiti - —
Anguillanot placed - —
Arubanot placed - —
British Virgin Islandsnot placed - —
Cayman Islandsnot placed - —
Curaçaonot placed - —
Dominicanot placed - —
Montserratnot placed - —
Puerto Riconot placed - —
Saint Kitts and Nevisnot placed - —
Saint Martinnot placed - —
Sint Maartennot placed - —
Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed - —
United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
05The evidence
Every statistic we hold for British Virgin Islands
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe. Select a statistic for this country’s row beside every other country, the world median and every edition.
Governance & Institutions5
- Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%)bottom 2%02024
- Disability Benefit CoverageILO · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%)bottom 40%25.52025
- Government Spending on EducationUIS · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)81st of 123position · derived3.1732023
- Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%)bottom 41%59.32025
Economy & Innovation8
- Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman)top 15%0.5572025
- Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · FDI inflows (% of GDP)top 1%2,2212025
- Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)162nd of 175rank11.792026
- Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons)top 46%457.112026
- Price Level of Household ConsumptionGGDC · Price level of household consumption (US output price level in 2021 = 1)top 12%0.9462023
- Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting)bottom 2%52025
- Statutory Corporate Income Tax RateOECD · Combined statutory corporate income tax rate, central and sub-central government (%)bottom 3%02026
- Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100)bottom 1%42.422025
Work & Labour2
- Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%)top 4%1002024
- Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%)bottom 26%02024
Education & Knowledge15
- Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · STEM graduates who are women (%; 50 = parity)top 6%48.72023
- Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · Adjusted gender parity index, tertiary gross enrolment (1 = parity)75th of 95position · derived1.3712024
- Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · Out-of-school rate, lower secondary age (%)27th of 116position · derived · 1 = worst17.952024
- Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryUIS · Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)7th of 121position · derived · 1 = worst26.972024
- Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home)top 8%53.072023
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryUIS · Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)64th of 112position · derived82.842024
- Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%)72nd of 120position · derived55.822024
- Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · Primary schools with access to electricity (%)top 30%1002024
- Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%)top 22%1002024
- Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis)88th of 92position · derived · 1 = worst10.292024
- Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · Primary teachers with the minimum qualifications their country requires (%)top 41%97.172024
- School Life ExpectancyUIS · School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years)65th of 77position · derived12.542024
- Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%)92nd of 109position · derived75.582024
- Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates)bottom 1%02023
- Tertiary Enrolment RatioUIS · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%)66th of 95position · derived29.562024
Health & Wellbeing11
- Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19141st of 222position · derived · 1 = worst15.272023
- Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates168th of 222position · derived · 1 = worst75.162023
- Days Above 35°CECMWF · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s landtop 16%02025
- Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births)106th of 200position · derived · 1 = worst11.392024
- Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates103rd of 222position · derived16.732023
- Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates81st of 222position · derived77.282023
- Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5)108th of 200position · derived · 1 = worst2.5082024
- Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births)118th of 200position · derived · 1 = worst6.4362024
- PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³)193rd of 220position · derived · 1 = worst62023
- Stillbirth RateUN IGME · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births)120th of 200position · derived · 1 = worst6.5022023
- Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)112th of 200position · derived · 1 = worst12.382024
Development & Human Capital2
- Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)top 28%1002024
- Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · Rural population with electricity access (%)top 29%1002024
Environment & Sustainability14
- Agricultural LandFAO · Agricultural land (% of land area)72nd of 209position · derived46.672023
- Arable Land per PersonFAO · Arable land (hectares per person)165th of 206position · derived0.0262023
- Burned AreaGWIS · Burned area (hectares)bottom 26%42.932025
- CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)68th of 210position · derived · 1 = worst4.8772024
- Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP)top 15%1.4872024
- Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight)bottom 13%1,1292024
- Forest AreaFAO · Forest area (% of land area)122nd of 210position · derived24.132023
- Mangrove AreaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy) · Mangrove forest area (hectares)bottom 20%126.982025
- Methane EmissionsEDGAR · Methane emissions (gigagrams of CH₄)bottom 4%0.4732025
- Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · Municipal solid waste generated (kg per person per day)1st of 201position · derived · 1 = worst4.1762026
- Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population)top 14%12.732015
- Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts)bottom 10%0.0032024
- Tree Cover LossWorld Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland) · Tree cover loss (hectares, where canopy cover exceeded 30% in 2000)bottom 16%1.0962025
- Tropical Moist Forest DeforestationJRC · Tropical moist forest deforested in the year (million hectares)bottom 7%02025
Gender & Equality2
- Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years)top 25%28.42019
- Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · Male births per 100 female birthstop 43%105.32023
Peace & Security1
- Refugees by Country of OriginUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people)bottom 2%02025
Risk & Resilience2
- Asylum-Seekers by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · Asylum-seekers awaiting a decision, end of year (people)bottom 17%262025
- Refugee Population by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate hosted, end of year (people)bottom 9%62025
Mobility & Trade5
- Container Import Dwell TimeWorld Bank Group · Median days a full import container waits in port136th of 156position · derived · 1 = worst2.22024
- EmigrantsUN DESA Population Division · Migrants from the country living abroad, mid-year (people)bottom 12%6,1852024
- International MigrantsUN DESA Population Division · International migrants living in the country, mid-year (people)bottom 18%24,5202024
- Net Migration RateUN DESA Population Division · Net migrants per 1,000 populationtop 4%15.062023
Energy5
- Crude Oil ProductionEIA · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day)bottom 26%02025
- Natural Gas ProductionEIA · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres)bottom 27%02024
- Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average)top 13%4.8552020
- Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · Energy use per person (million Btu)top 37%68.142024
- Primary Energy ProductionEIA · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu)bottom 1%02024
Digital & Technology2
- GitHub DevelopersGitHub · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end)bottom 7%1,2162026
- GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end)bottom 10%1,6272026
People & Population13
- Crude Birth RateUN DESA Population Division · Births per 1,000 populationbottom 13%8.3322023
- Crude Death RateUN DESA Population Division · Deaths per 1,000 populationbottom 24%5.9722023
- Mean Age at ChildbearingUN DESA Population Division · Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children (years)bottom 30%28.482023
- Median Age of the PopulationUN DESA Population Division · Median age (years)top 31%37.552023
- Population Aged 65 and OverUN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)top 47%9.2022023
- Population DensityUN DESA Population Division · People per square kilometre of landtop 24%253.152023
- Population Growth RateUN DESA Population Division · Population growth (% per year)top 28%1.7552023
- Population Living in Cities (Degree of Urbanisation)UN DESA Population Division · Share of the population living in cities as the Degree of Urbanisation defines them (%)bottom 8%02025
- Population Under Age 15UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)bottom 15%15.142023
- Sex Ratio of the Total PopulationUN DESA Population Division · Males per 100 femalesbottom 6%89.512023
- Total Dependency RatioUN DESA Population Division · People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64bottom 2%32.172023
- Total Fertility RateUN DESA Population Division · Live births per womanbottom 4%1.0452023
06Method
Sources and how to read them
How to read this page
- The scores and ranks belong to their publishers. Nothing is adjusted, rescaled or re-ranked; each is reproduced from the edition named beside it. Where a row says position · derived, the publisher ranks nobody on that measure and the position is ours, made by ordering the published score.
- Each statistic shows its newest edition, which is not always the edition the Country Index uses: the index pins every source to one data year so its average compares like with like.
How a standing is built from percentiles, why British Virgin Islands can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
Sources
- Statistics: 23 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
- Capital, languages, currency, codes: Wikidata, public domain (CC0).
- Map and land borders: Natural Earth, public domain. Borders are de facto — where administration actually changes — not claimed.
Photographs
The photograph of British Virgin Islands on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). British Virgin Islands: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/british-virgin-islands