22 Astonishing Facts About Anguilla

Looking to boost your local knowledge? Take a look at these 22 facts about Anguilla!

Geographical stats…Facts about Anguilla

  1. Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean.
  2. Its nearest neighbours are Antigua and Barbuda to the southeast, Saint-Martin and Saint Kitts and Nevis to the south, US Virgin Islands to the southwest and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to the west.
  3. To relax on the stunning sandy beaches that this incredible country has to offer, head for the coordinates of 18.2272° N, 63.0490° W.
  4. Anguilla is a flat and low lying coral and limestone island.
  5. The total land area of Anguilla is 35 square miles (91 square kilometres)…
  6. …that’s almost 3 times the size of Blackpool.
  7. Anguilla’s population was 16,418 in 2015…
  8. …that’s less than 1/8th of the population of Blackpool!
  9. Residents here are known as Anguillians.
  10. The capital is The Valley; it had a population of 1,067 in 2011.
  11. Anguillians enjoy a tropical climate, moderated by northeast trade winds. There is a dry season from February to April and a rainy season from May to January.
  12. Although the tiny island of Anguilla boasts two airports, only one of them has a paved runway!

Social intricacies

  1. The official language of Anguilla is English.
  2. Christopher Columbus first discovered the island in 1493 and apparently named it Anguilla because of its eel-like shape!
  3. East Caribbean Dollar is the official currency here.
  4. Anguilla was once inhabited by the cannibalistic Carib tribe, who captured the island from the peaceful Arawak tribe!
  5. The average life span here is 81 years.
  6. Unusually, Anguilla’s national sport is boat racing!

Industry insights…

  1. Anguilla grows tobacco and vegetables; they also rear cattle and catch fish.
  2. Its industry consists of tourism, boat building and offshore financial services.
  3. The main exports include lobster, fish, salt, livestock, rum and concrete blocks.

Bonus Fact!

  1. Do you know someone lucky enough to live in Anguilla? You can make cheap calls to Anguilla with Cherry Call – don’t forget, you’ll also need to use the international dialling code of 001264.

To keep up-to-date with what’s going on in Anguilla, head over to The Anguillian website.

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