British Virgin Islands: Flag and Facts
The British Virgin Islands flag puts the UK flag in the top-left corner of a blue field and adds a coat of arms showing a woman holding a lamp between two columns of lamps.
- Official name
- Virgin Islands
- Capital
- Road Town
- Region
- Caribbean
- Population
- 40,102 (2024)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- United States dollar
- Area
- 151 km² (58 sq mi)
- People
- Virgin Islander
- Calling code
- +1284
- Highest point
- Mount Sage 521 m
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of the UK)
- National symbols
- zenaida dove, white cedar flower
- Borders
- No land borders
- Status
- Territory (not a sovereign country)
About British Virgin Islands
The woman stands for Saint Ursula, and the other lamps represent her followers. Columbus named the islands after this saint and her companions in 1493. A scroll below carries the Latin word VIGILATE, which means "Be Watchful."
Arawak people lived here first, followed by Caribs. The Dutch settled in 1648, and the English annexed the islands in 1672. From 1872 to 1960 they were grouped into Britain's Leeward Islands colony and gained self-rule in 1967. The economy is linked closely to the US Virgin Islands next door, and the US dollar is the official money. Hurricane Irma slammed Tortola in 2017, wrecking or damaging an estimated 80% of homes and businesses.
Did you know?
- The zenaida dove and the white cedar flower are national symbols of the British Virgin Islands.
- Mount Sage, at 521 meters, is the high point of the territory.
- Around 40,102 people live in the British Virgin Islands.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about British Virgin Islands
What is the capital of the British Virgin Islands?
Road Town is the capital.
What currency do the British Virgin Islands use?
The territory uses the US dollar as its official money.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.