British Virgin Islands Environment - 2022

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from desalination plants; sewage and mining/industry waste contribute to water pollution, threatening coral reefs

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.21 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Land use

agricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 24.3% (2018 est.)

other: 29% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 21,099 tons (2000 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding British Virgin Islands on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of British Virgin Islands 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about British Virgin Islands 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.