Page last updated on February 15,

Location:
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:
18 30 N, 64 30 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 151 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 219
land: 151 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke

Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
80 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain:
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 20%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 6.67%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 73.33% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

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 wells and rainwater catchments)

Geography - note:
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico