Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.

• Nationality: Noun and adjective--Anguillan(s)
• Population: 16,086 (July 2014 est.)
• Annual growth rate: 2.06% (2014 est.)
• Ethnic groups: black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)
• Religions: Protestant 83.1% (Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%), Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)
• Languages: English (official).
• Adult literacy: --95% .
• Infant mortality rate: --3.4/1,000.
• Life expectancy: -men 78.61 years; women 83.86.
• Unemployment (2006): 5.1%.

• Type: Parliamentary democracy; British overseas territory
• Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990.
• Executive Branch: Governor (representing Queen Elizabeth II, head of state), Chief Minister (head of government), Executive Council.
  • Head of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Christina SCOTT (since 23 July 2013)
  • Head of Government: Chief Minister Victor F. BANKS (since 23 April 2015)
  • Cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
• Legislative Branch: Unicameral Parliament.
• Judicial Branch: Magistrate's courts, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (High Court and Court of Appeals), final appeal to Privy Council in London.

• Parliament name - House of Assembly
• Structure of parliament - Unicameral
• Members of parliament: In the House of Assembly, 7 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms, 2 members are appointed ex officio to serve 5-year terms, and 2 members are appointed to serve 5-year terms. 
• Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age
• Last parliamentary election: held on 15 February 2010 - Anguilla United Movement (AUM) - 4 seats;Anguilla United Front (AUF) - 2 seats; Anguilla Progressive Party (APP) - 1. 
• Next parliamentary elections: 22 April 2015
• Number of registered electors: approximately 8,652 (2010)

• GDP: $175.4 million (2009 est.)
• GDP growth rate: -8.5% (2009 est.)
• Per capita GDP: $12,200 (2008 est.)
• Inflation rate: 3.1% (2013 est.)
• Natural resources: Negligible.
• Agriculture: small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
• Industry: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
• Main exports: Fish, lobsters, salt
• Monetary unit: 1 East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents
• Official exchange rate: EC$2.70 = U.S. $1.