MigrantoBritish Virgin Islands Diaspora
6.2K British Virgin Islands live abroad — 16% of the population of the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 76% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| US Virgin Islands | 2465 |
| South Africa | 1265 |
| Sint Maarten | 996 |
| Mali | 657 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 258 |
| Curaçao | 161 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 104 |
| Dominica | 87 |
| Bulgaria | 83 |
| Dominican Republic | 82 |
| Grenada | 14 |
| Saint Lucia | 6 |
| Norway | 4 |
| Bahamas | 2 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Greece | 0 |
By region
68% of the diaspora lives in Latin America
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Key facts
The British Virgin Islands diaspora in numbers
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 70% to 40%.
Most British Virgin Islands abroad live in the US Virgin Islands
40% of the diaspora lives in the US Virgin Islands, while the next country accounts for just 20%.
The share of the diaspora living in Latin America has declined since 1990
98.8% of the diaspora lived in Latin America in 1990, compared with 67.5% today.
1 in 6 people born in the British Virgin Islands lives abroad
6.2K people born in the British Virgin Islands now live in other countries — 15.7% of a population of 39.5K.
British Virgin Islands diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 3832 |
| 1995 | 3930 |
| 2000 | 4053 |
| 2005 | 3678 |
| 2010 | 4534 |
| 2015 | 4874 |
| 2020 | 5543 |
| 2024 | 6185 |
Largest communities over time
British Virgin Islands living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | US Virgin Islands | South Africa | Sint Maarten | Mali | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2665 | 12 | 790 | 0 | 106 |
| 1995 | 2693 | 12 | 790 | 0 | 140 |
| 2000 | 2727 | 13 | 790 | 0 | 193 |
| 2005 | 2594 | 44 | 434 | 0 | 219 |
| 2010 | 2463 | 119 | 868 | 407 | 237 |
| 2015 | 2464 | 317 | 904 | 500 | 243 |
| 2020 | 2464 | 828 | 953 | 585 | 250 |
| 2024 | 2465 | 1265 | 996 | 657 | 258 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of British Virgin Islands in each country has changed since the selected year
British Virgin Islands among immigrants in other countries
Where British Virgin Islands make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many British Virgin Islands live outside British Virgin Islands?
Around 6.2K British Virgin Islands live abroad, the world's #199 largest diaspora.
Where do most British Virgin Islands abroad live?
Most British Virgin Islands live in US Virgin Islands, South Africa and Sint Maarten — these three countries account for about 76% of all British Virgin Islands living abroad.
Which country has the largest British Virgin Islands population outside British Virgin Islands?
US Virgin Islands is home to the largest British Virgin Islands community abroad — 2.5K people, about 40% of all British Virgin Islands living abroad.
What share of the population of the British Virgin Islands lives abroad?
About 16% of the population of the British Virgin Islands lives abroad — that's 6.2K out of a total population of 39.5K.
Is the British Virgin Islands diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of British Virgin Islands living abroad has grown from 4.9K to 6.2K, about 27%.
Where does the data on the British Virgin Islands diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in the British Virgin Islands who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in the British Virgin Islands
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