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Anguilla - People

Most of the population of 16,752 (July 2016 est.) is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast. At the time of the census in 1992 the population of Anguilla was 8,960. The sex ratio between males and females was very even with approximately 50% male and 50% female.

Population estimates by the Government Statistical Unit estimated the 1998 population at 12,394. The birth rate between 1988 and 1998 had declined from 20.5 to 14.8 per thousand, the death rate fluctuates between 5.4 and 8.6 per thousand. There had been a decline in the overall rate of natural increase over this period. The population increase over this period is in large part due to immigration of persons from other Caribbean islands (particularly Guyana, Santa Domingo, Dominica, St Kitts / Nevis, Montserrat), UK and the USA.

Ethnic groups are African/black 85.3%, hispanic 4.9%, mixed 3.8%, white 3.2%, East Indian/Indian 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.). Religions are Protestant 73.2% (includes Anglican 22.7%, Methodist 19.4%, Pentecostal 10.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Baptist 7.1%, Church of God 4.9%, Presbytarian 0.2%, Brethren 0.1%), Roman Catholic 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 10.9%, other 3.2%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4.5% (2011 est.).

The 2001 census population was 11,561, with 5,705 males and 5,856 females. The estimated population for 2010 was 16,373. In 2006, life expectancy at birth was 77.3 years (74.4 for males and 80.3 for females). In 2010, life expectancy at birth was estimated to be 80.2 years (78.2 for males and 83.4 for females).

There is no income tax on the island and although the cost of living is high there is little poverty on the island but there is a growing sub-sector of the population that is economically deprived without experiencing extreme poverty. It is generally thought that poverty is confined to the elderly who may be ill, live in inadequate housing and have children overseas. A number of Anguillans do their shopping in St Martin, taking the ferry from Blowing Point. Car ownership is very high amongst the community, partly because there is no public transport service. The use of information and communication technology increased between 2006 and 2010. Cell-phone subscriptions rose from 96.72 per 100 population in 2006 to 128.07 in 2010; fixed telephone lines, on the other hand, decreased from 41.58 per 100 population in 2006 to 41.02 in 2010. Internet users, too, increased, from 36 per 100 population in 2006 to 48 in 2009.

The territory has made a number of advances in health over the years, including improving sanitation, maintaining vaccination coverage above 95% for targeted diseases, eradicating smallpox, and the measles; it has also continued partnerships in combating the HIV epidemic and improved water quality and food safety. There is an effective regulatory system in place to ensure continued food safety (such as mandatory food handlers’ education and certification programs, and monitoring water quality through periodic testing/sampling); development of a primary health care system; provision of dialysis services; provision of free antiretroviral drugs; and effective and relatively low-cost dental services.

The birth rate fluctuated, from 12.8 per 1,000 population in 2006, to 9.9 in 2008, and to 11.4 in 2010. There were 325 deaths during the period, and the death rate was 4.1 per 1,000 population in 2006 and 4.9 per 1,000 population in 2010. Variations in the birth and death rates over the reporting period may be due to Anguilla’s small population base, where slight increases or decreases in the absolute number can produce big shifts in the rate.

Migration is an important demographic factor in the territory. The boom in Anguilla’s construction and tourism sectors in 2006 and 2007 increased the demand for labor, creating a magnet for workers from elsewhere seeking employment in Anguilla. It was estimated that, in 2009, migration inflows were 14.06 per 1,000 population. Persons naturalized or registered came mainly from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the United States of America, and other Caribbean countries.