The
Development Planning Unit
Government of the British Virgin Islands

THE PEOPLE

Population and Demographics

The 1980 Population census of the BVI recorded the population of the country as 10,985 of which 51.1% were males. Data from the 1991 population census shows that the population grew by 5,123 to 16,108. Such growth represented a natural increase (birth minus deaths) of 1,969 and a net migration inflow of 3,154 persons. The large inflow of immigrants consisting of mainly workers accompanied in some cases by their dependents during the 1980-1991 period, was a consequence of an increase in the demand for labour which the local labour force could not supply due to inadequate numbers and the lack of the range of skills demanded. This accelerated increase in the demand of labour primarily stemmed from a sharp increase in economic activity in the tourism, construction and financial services sectors from 1986.

During the last decade, the population increased some 61% with more than 80% of this increase being classified as migration. In fact, population changes attributable to migration moved from net outward migration in 1980 to three (3) times that figure in new migration inflows in 1991. The age and sex structure of the population is distinctly different from that of many countries in the Caribbean sub-region in that a rapid depletion of persons after the age of 20 because of the absence of migration. The unusual age structure is explained by the rapid economic transformation of the country from agricultural production to a service economy mainly oriented around tourism and financial services.

POPULATION CENSUS
1991 and 1996 – 2001

ETHNIC GROUPS, 1991

VITAL STATISTICS - BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES, 1992-1995

EDUCATION, 1996 - 2001

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This page was last updated on: Monday, 21st November 2005