Status: Dependency

Area: 35 sq. mi. (91 sq. km)

Population (1999 eat.): 11,510; average annual rate of natural increase: 1.14%; birth rate: 16.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 18.7/1000; density per sq. mi.: 329 Capital (1992): The Valley, 1,400. Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar. Ethnicity/race: black African. Literacy: 95%

Economic summary: GDPIPPP (1996 eat.): $75 million; $7,200 per capita. Real growth rate: 3.4%. Inflation: 3.6%. Unemployment: 7% (1992). Industry: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services. Labor force: (1992): 4,400; commerce, 36%; services, 29%; construction, 18%; transportation and utilities, 10%; manufacturing, 3%; agriculture/ forestry/ fishing/ mining, 4%. Exports: $1.3 million (fob., 1995). Imports: $39.8 million (lob., 1995).

Anguilla was first colonized in 1650 by English settlers from St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and has since remained a British territory. It was originally part of the West Indies Associated Statea as a component of the St. Kites-Nevis-Anguilla Federation. In 1967, Anguilla declared its independence from the Federation but Britain did not recognize this action. In Feb. 1969, Anguilla voted to cut all ties with Britain and become an independent republic. In March, Britain landed troops on the island and, on March 30, a truce was signed. In July 1971, Anguilla became a dependency of Britain and two months later Britain ordered the withdrawal of all its troops. A new constitution for Anguilla, effective in Feb. 1976, provides for separate administration and a government of elected representatives. The Associated State of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla ended in 1980 and in 1982 a new Anguillan constitution took effect. In 1997, Anguilla announced that it would build a new airport, with almost double the present runway length, in an effort to increase tourism.

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