Long Bay Beach, Tortola

The British Virgin Islands are adjacent to the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and 60 miles east of Puerto Rico. The BVI comprises over 40 islands, islets and cays (some little more than rocks) with a total land area of only 59 sq miles scattered over some 1,330 sq miles of sea. Sixteen of the islands are inhabited, the largest being Tortola (21 sq miles), Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. Lush vegetation, sandy beaches, numerous yachting marinas and fine coral reefs make the islands a natural tourist destination.

The population of the BVI is approximately 28,000, of whom just over 50% are 'non-belongers', mainly “down islanders” (i.e. from other Caribbean islands). There is a resident expatriate British community of approximately 1200 people. The vast majority of the population live on the main island, Tortola, with most of the remainder of the population on the neighbouring island of Virgin Gorda. Small communities of around 250 live on Anegada and Jost Van Dyke with a few residents on some of the other islands.

The BVI's major economic activities are tourism and international financial services.

English is the official and used language of the BVI. There is a small Spanish speaking community from the Dominican Republic.