This article is about the Caribbean British overseas territory. For other uses see Anguilla (disambiguation). Anguilla Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Strength and Endurance" Anthem: God Save the Queen National song: God Bless Anguilla 1 Capital The Valley Official language(s) English Ethnic groups  90.1% West African 4.6% Multiracial 3.7% European 1.5% other1 Demonym Anguillian Government British Overseas Territory  -  Monarch H.M. Queen Elizabeth II  -  Governor William Alistair Harrison  -  Deputy Governor Stanley Reid  -  Chief Minister Hubert Hughes Establishment  -  UK overseas territory 1980  Area  -  Total 91 km2 (220th) 35 sq mi   -  Water (%) negligible Population  -  2006 estimate 136002 (215th)  -  Density 132/km2 (n/a) 342/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2004 estimate  -  Total $108.9 million   -  Per capita $8800  Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD) Time zone (UTC-4) Drives on the left ISO 3166 code AI Internet TLD .ai Calling code +1-264 1 "National Song of Anguilla". Official Website of the Government of Anguilla. http://www.gov.ai/nationalsong.htm. Retrieved 12 October 2005. 

Anguilla ( /wl/ ang-gwil-) is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island of Anguilla itself approximately 26 km (16 mi) long by 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its widest point together with a number of much smaller islands and cays with no permanent population. The island's capital is The Valley. The total land area of the territory is 91 km2 (35 sq mi)3 with a population of approximately 13500 (2006 estimate). It lies east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. Contents 1 History 2 Politics 2.1 Military 3 Geography 4 Climate 4.1 Temperature 4.2 Rainfall 5 Economy 6 Transportation 7 Demographics 8 Culture 8.1 Religion 8.2 Language 8.3 Music 8.4 Sport 9 See also 10 References 11 External links History Main article: History of Anguilla

Anguilla was first settled by Amerindian tribes who migrated from South America. The earliest Amerindian artifacts found on Anguilla have been dated to around 1300 BC and remains of settlements date from 600 AD.4 The date of European discovery is uncertain: some sources claim that Columbus sighted the island in 1493 while others state that the island was first discovered by the French in 1564 or 1565.5 The name Anguilla derives from the word for "eel" in any of various Romance languages (modern Spanish: anguila; French: anguille; Italian: anguilla) probably chosen because of the island's eel-like shape.

Anguilla was first colonised by English settlers from Saint Kitts beginning in 1650.6 The French temporarily took over the island in 1666 but under the Treaty of Breda it was returned to English control. In this early colonial period Anguilla sometimes served as a place of refuge. A Major John Scott who visited in September of 1667 wrote of leaving the island "in good condition" and noted that in July 1668 "200 or 300 people fled thither in time of war."7 Other early arrivals included Europeans from Antigua and Barbados. It is likely that some of these early Europeans brought enslaved Africans with them. Historians confirm that African slaves lived in the region in the early 17th century. For example Africans from Senegal lived in St. Christopher (today St. Kitts) in 1626. By 1672 a slave depot existed on the island of Nevis serving the Leeward Islands. While the time of African arrival in Anguilla is difficult to place precisely archival evidence indicates a substantial African presence (at least 100) on the island by 1683.

While traditional histories of the region assume that "the English" were the first settlers of Anguilla under British rule recent scholarship focused on Anguilla offers a more nuanced view. It emphasizes the significance of early sociocultural diversity. This research suggests that St. Christopher8 Barbados Nevis and Antigua are all significant points of origin. Regarding African origins West Africa as well as Central Africa are both posited as the ancestral homelands of some of Anguilla's early African population.9

During the early colonial period Anguilla was administered by the British through Antigua but in 1824 it was placed under the administrative control of nearby Saint Kitts. In 1967 Britain granted Saint Kitts and Nevis full internal autonomy and Anguilla was also incorporated into the new unified dependency named Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla against the wishes of many Anguillians. This led to two rebellions in 1967 and 1969 (Anguillian Revolution) headed by Ronald Webster and a brief period as a self-declared independent republic. British authority was fully restored in July 1971. In 1980 Anguilla was finally allowed to secede from Saint Kitts and Nevis and become a separate British colony (now termed a British overseas territory). Politics Main article: Politics of Anguilla See also: Law of Anguilla

Anguilla is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Its politics take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government and of a pluriform multi-party system.

The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes Anguilla on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. The territory's constitution is Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982 (amended 1990). Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the House of Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military

As a dependency of the UK the UK is responsible for its military defence although there are no active garrison or armed forces present. Geography Main article: Geography of Anguilla An aerial view of the western portion of the island of Anguilla. The Blowing Point ferry terminal is visible in the lower right as are (right to left) Shaddick Point Rendezvous Bay Cove Bay and Maundays Bay.

Anguilla is a flat low-lying island of coral and limestone in the Caribbean Sea east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is directly north of Saint Martin separated from that island by the Anguilla Channel. The soil is generally thin and poor supporting only scrub vegetation. Anguilla is noted for its spectacular and ecologically important coral reefs and beaches. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays mostly tiny and uninhabited. Some of these are: Anguillita Dog Island Prickly Pear Cays Sandy Island Scrub Island Scilly Cay Seal Island Sombrero also known as Hat Island Map showing location of Anguilla relative to Sint Maarten/Saint Martin and other islands to its south Map of Anguilla Climate Main article: Climate of Anguilla Temperature Northeastern trade winds keep this tropical island relatively cool and dry. Average annual temperature is 27 C (80.6 F). JulyOctober is its hottest period DecemberFebruary its coolest. Rainfall Rainfall averages 900 mm (35.4 in) annually although the figures vary from season to season and year to year. The island is subject to both sudden tropical storms and hurricanes which occur in the period from July to October. The island suffered damage in 1995 from Hurricane Luis. Economy Overlooking Sandy Ground Anguilla. Main article: Economy of Anguilla Anguilla's thin arid soil is largely unsuitable for agriculture and the island has few land-based natural resources. Its main industries are tourism offshore incorporation and management offshore banking and fishing. Many insurance and financial businesses are headquartered in Anguilla. The economy of Anguilla is falling with the highest speed in the World as a result of the 2008- World crisis. Before that the economy of Anguilla was expanding rapidly especially the tourism sector which was driving major new developments in partnerships with multi-national companies. Anguilla's currency is the East Caribbean dollar though the US dollar is also widely accepted. The exchange rate is fixed to the US dollar at US$1 EC$2.68. The economy and especially the tourism sector suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September but recovered in 1996. Hotels were hit particularly hard during this time. Another economic setback occurred during the aftermath of Hurricane Lenny in 2000.10 Transportation Main article: Transport in Anguilla Anguilla is served by Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (prior to 4 July 2010 known as Wallblake Airport). The primary runway at the airport is 5462 feet (1665 m) in length and can accommodate moderate-sized aircraft. Services connect to various other Caribbean islands via regional carrier LIAT local charter airlines and others; and although there are no direct scheduled flights to or from continental America or Europe the airport can handle large narrow-body jets such as the Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 . Regular ferries link Anguilla and the neighboring island of Saint Martin with a journey time of about twenty minutes. Aside from taxis there is no public transport on the island. Cars drive on the left. Demographics Main article: Demographics of Anguilla The majority of residents (90.08%) are black the descendants of slaves transported from Africa. Growing minorities include whites at 3.74% and people of mixed race at 4.65% (figures from 2001 census). 72% of the population is Anguillian while 28% is non-Anguillian (2001 census). Of the non-Anguillian population many are citizens of the United States United Kingdom St Kitts & Nevis the Dominican Republic Jamaica and Nigeria. 2006 and 2007 saw an influx of large numbers of Chinese Indian and Mexican workers brought in as labour for major tourist developments due to the local population not being large enough to support the labour requirements. Culture The beach at the Cap Juluca resort on Maundays Bay. Island Harbour The Anguilla National Trust (ANT) was established in 1988 and opened its offices in 1993 charged with the responsibility of preserving the heritage of the island including its cultural heritage. The Trust has programmes encouraging Anguillian writers and the preservation of the island's history. The island's cultural history begins with the Taino Indians. Artifacts have been found around the island telling of life before European settlers arrived. As throughout the Caribbean holidays are a cultural fixture. Anguilla's most important holidays are of historic as much as cultural importance particularly the anniversary of the emancipation (previously August Monday in the Park) celebrated as the Summer Festival. British festivities such as the Queen's birthday are also celebrated. Religion According to the 2001 census Christianity is Anguilla's predominant religion with 29 percent of the population practising Anglicanism. Another 23.9 percent are Methodist. Other churches on the island include Seventh-day Adventist Baptist Roman Catholic and Jehovah's Witnesses (0.7%).11 Between 1992 and 2001 the number of followers of the Church of Goddisambiguation needed and Pentecostal Churches increased considerably. There are at least 15 churches on the island several of architectural interest. Although a minority on the island it is an important location to followers of Rastafarian religion Anguilla is the birthplace of Robert Athlyi Rogers author of The Holy Piby which has had a strong influence on Rastafarian beliefs. Various other religions are practised as well.11 Religions in Anguilla11 in percent Religion 1992 2001 Anglican 40.4 29.0 Methodist 33.2 23.9 Seventh-day Adventist 7.0 7.6 Baptist 4.7 7.3 Roman Catholic 3.2 5.7 Episcopalian - 7.6 Pentecostal - 7.7 Jehovah Witnesses - 0.7 Rastafarian - 0.7 Evangelical - 0.5 Plymouth Brethren - 0.3 Muslim - 0.3 Presbyterian - 0.2 Hindu - 0.4 Jewish - 0.1 None - 4.0 Other 10.7 3.5 Not stated 0.7 0.3 Language Main article: Anguillan Creole Today most people in Anguilla speak a British-influenced variety of "Standard" English. Other languages are also spoken on the island including varieties of Spanish Chinese and the languages of other immigrants. However the most common language other than Standard English is the island's own English-lexifier Creole language (not to be confused with French Creole spoken in islands such as Haiti Martinique and Guadeloupe). It is referred to locally by terms such as "dialect" (pronounced "dialek") or "Anguillian". It has its main roots in early varieties of English and West African languages and is similar to the dialects spoken in English-speaking islands throughout the Eastern Caribbean. Linguists who are interested in the origins of Anguillian and other Caribbean Creoles point out that some of its grammatical features can be traced to African languages while others can be traced to European languages. In order to understand how this works it is useful to remember that grammatical "features" consists of much more than words (i.e. lexical items). It is possible that different aspects of this language have different origins and influences. The aspects that should be considered in understanding the history of the grammar of this language are at least 5: semantics (meaning); phonology (the system of consonants and vowels characteristic of a given language) syntax (word order) and morphology (rules for forming words). What language are these early Africans likely to have spoken Three areas have been identified as significant for the identification of the linguistic origins of those forced migrants who arrived before 1710: the Gold Coast the Slave Coast and the Windward Coast.12 Sociohistorical information from Anguilla's archives suggest that Africans and Europeans formed two distinct but perhaps overlapping speech communities in the early phases of the island's colonization. "Anguillian" is believed to have emerged as the language of the masses as time passed slavery was abolished and locals began to see themselves as "belonging" to Anguillian society.9 Music Main article: Music of Anguilla Sport A modern square rigger viewed from Long Bay See also: Sailing in Anguilla Cricket in the West Indies and Rugby union in Anguilla Boat racingdisambiguation needed has deep roots in Anguillian culture and is the national sport. There are regular sailing regattas on national holidays such as Carnival which are contested by locally built and designed boats. These boats have names and have sponsors that print their logo on their sails. As in many other former British Colonies cricket is also a popular sport. Anguilla is the home of Omari Banks who played for the West Indies Cricket Team while Cardigan Connor played first-class cricket for English county side Hampshire and was 'chef de mission' (team manager) for Anguilla's Commonwealth Games team in 2002. Rugby union is represented in Anguilla by the Anguilla Eels RFC who were formed in April 2006.13 The Eels have been finalists in the St. Martin tournament in November 2006 and semi finalists in 2007 2008 2009 and Champions in 2010. The Eels were formed in 2006 by Scottish club national second row Martin Welsh Club Sponsor and President of the AERFC Ms Jacquie Ruan and Canadian standout Scrumhalf Mark Harris (Toronto Scottish RFC). The club was lucky enough to host the HMS Iron Duke in September 2008 which saw a very spirited game going to the visitors 18-13. The St Barts Barracudas have also been to Anguilla to play the Eels also prevailing 11 points to 6. See also Caribbean portal United Kingdom portal Main article: Outline of Anguilla Bibliography of Anguilla Index of Anguilla-related articles References Anguilla World Fact Book Country Profile: Anguilla Travel & Living Abroad Foreign & Commonwealth Office http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact92/wf930012.txt Caribbean Islands Sarah Cameron (Footprint Travel Guides) p. 466 (Google Books) Anguilla's History Government of Anguilla website Charles Prestwood Lucas (2009). A Historical Geography of the British Colonies: The West Indies. General Books LLC. pp. 143. ISBN 978-1459008687.  British Colonial and State Papers 1661-1668 November 16 1667 and July 9 1668. Cooper V.O. 1998. St. Kitts: The Launching Pad for Leeward Islands Creoles. In St. Kitts and the Atlantic Creoles the Texts of Samuel Augustus Mathews in Perspective P. Baker and A. Bruyn (eds.). London: University of Westminister Press. a b Walicek Don E. 2009. "The Founder Principle and Anguilla's Homestead Society" Gradual Creolization: Studies Celebrating Jacques Arends ed. by M. van den Berg H. Cardoso and R. Selbach. (Creole Language Library Series 34) Amsterdam: John Benjamins pp. 349-372. South America Central America and the Caribbean 2003 (11 ed.). Routledge. 2002. pp. 52. ISBN 978-1857431384.  a b c "Persons by Religion Census 1992 and 2001 (Table 14)". Statistics Department of Anguilla. http://gov.ai/statistics/census/Demography%20&%20Culture%20tables.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-16.  Singler John. 1993. African influence upon Afro-American language varieties: A consideration of sociohistorical factors. In Africanisms in Afro-American language varieties S. Mufwene and n. Condon (eds.) 235-253. Athens GA: University of Georgia Press. Rugby in Anguilla! Anguilla News External links Find more about Anguilla on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Government Government of Anguilla official government website General information Anguilla entry at The World Factbook Anguilla from UCB Libraries GovPubs Portals on the World: Anguilla from the Library of Congress of the United States Anguilla at the Open Directory Project Wikimedia Atlas of Anguilla Travel Anguilla travel guide from Wikitravel  Articles Related to Anguilla   Geographic locale Lat. and Long. 181314N 6347W / 18.22056N 63.06861W / 18.22056; -63.06861 v d eCountries and dependencies of North America Sovereign states Antigua and Barbuda  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Canada  Costa Rica  Cuba  Dominica  Dominican Republic  El Salvador  France (Guadeloupe  Martinique)  Grenada  Guatemala  Haiti  Honduras  Jamaica  Mexico  Nicaragua  Netherlands (Bonaire  Saba  Saint Eustatius)  Panama  St. Kitts and Nevis  St. Lucia  St. Vincent and the Grenadines  Trinidad and Tobago  United States Dependencies Denmark Greenland France Clipperton Island  St. Barthlemy  St. Martin  St. Pierre and Miquelon Netherlands Aruba  Curaao  Sint Maarten United Kingdom Anguilla  Bermuda  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands  Montserrat  Turks and Caicos Islands United States Bajo Nuevo Bank  Navassa Island  Puerto Rico  Serranilla Bank  U.S. Virgin Islands v d eCountries and territories of the Caribbean  Sovereign states Commonwealth Realms Antigua and Barbuda  Bahamas  Barbados  Grenada  Jamaica  St. Kitts and Nevis  St. Lucia  St. Vincent and the Grenadines Commonwealth republics Dominica  Trinidad and Tobago Other republics Cuba  Dominican Republic  Haiti  Dependencies and other areas by parent state United Kingdom Anguilla  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands  Montserrat  Turks and Caicos Islands Netherlands Aruba  Bonaire  Curaao  Saba  Saint Eustatius  Sint Maarten France Guadeloupe  Martinique  St. Barthlemy  St. Martin United States Bajo Nuevo Bank  Navassa Island  Puerto Rico  Serranilla Bank  U.S. Virgin Islands  International membership v d eCaribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat (Secretary-General) Nations Members Antigua and Barbuda  Bahamas1  Barbados  Belize  Dominica  Grenada  Guyana  Haiti1  Jamaica  Montserrat2  St. Kitts and Nevis  St. Lucia  St. Vincent and the Grenadines  Suriname  Trinidad and Tobago Associate members Anguilla  Bermuda  Cayman Islands  British Virgin Islands  Turks and Caicos Islands Observers Aruba  Colombia  Curaao  Dominican Republic  Mexico  Puerto Rico  Sint Maarten  Venezuela Institutions CSME  CDEMA  CMO  CMO  CXC  CCJ  CFC  CEHI  CARDI  REPAHA  ACCP  CARICAD  CFNI  CCC  CRITI  Related organizations Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States 1 Member of the Community but not of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).   2 British overseas territory awaiting entrustment to join the CSME. v d eOrganisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Members Antigua and Barbuda  Dominica  Grenada  Montserrat  St. Kitts and Nevis  St. Lucia  St. Vincent and the Grenadines Associate members Anguilla  British Virgin Islands Financial institutions Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Registry  Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange  East Caribbean dollar  Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Other institutions Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court v d eBritish Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies Overseas territories Anguilla  Bermuda  British Antarctic Territory  British Indian Ocean Territory  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands  Falkland Islands  Gibraltar  Montserrat  Pitcairn Islands  Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha1  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands  Turks and Caicos Islands Crown dependencies Guernsey  Jersey  Isle of Man Sovereign base areas Akrotiri and Dhekelia 1 includes Saint Helena  Ascension Island  Tristan da Cunha includes Alderney  Sark v d eOutlying territories of European countries Territories under European sovereignty but closer to or on continents other than Europe (see inclusion criteria for further information) Denmark Greenland France Clipperton Island  French Guiana  French Polynesia  Guadeloupe  Martinique  Mayotte  New Caledonia  Runion  Saint Barthlemy  Saint Martin  Saint Pierre and Miquelon  Wallis and Futuna French Southern and Antarctic Lands Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean (Banc du Geyser  Bassas da India  Europa Island  Glorioso Islands  Juan de Nova Island  Tromelin Island)  le Amsterdam  le Saint-Paul  Crozet Islands  Kerguelen Islands  Adlie Land Italy Pantelleria  Pelagie Islands (Lampedusa  Lampione  Linosa) Netherlands Aruba  Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire  Saba  Saint Eustatius)  Curaao  Sint Maarten Norway Bouvet Island  Peter I Island  Queen Maud Land Portugal Azores  Madeira Spain Canary Islands  Ceuta  Melilla  Plazas de soberana (Islas Chafarinas  Pen de Alhucemas  Pen de Vlez de la Gomera) United Kingdom Anguilla  Bermuda  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands  Falkland Islands  Montserrat  Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha  Turks and Caicos Islands  British Antarctic Territory  British Indian Ocean Territory  Pitcairn Islands  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands v d eBritish Empire and Commonwealth of Nations Legend Current territory     Former territory * now a Commonwealth Realm     now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations Europe  18th century 17081757  Minorca since 1713  Gibraltar 17631782  Minorca 17981802  Minorca 19th century 18001964  Malta 18071890  Heligoland 18091864  Ionian Islands 20th century 1921-1937  Irish Free State North America  17th century 15831907  Newfoundland 16071776  Virginia since 1619  Bermuda 16201691  Plymouth Colony 16291691  Massachusetts Bay Colony 16321776  Maryland 16361776  Connecticut 16361776  Rhode Island 16371662  New Haven Colony 16631712  Carolina 16641776  New York 16651674 and 1702-1776  New Jersey 16701870  Rupert's Land 16741702  East Jersey 16741702  West Jersey 16801776  New Hampshire 16811776  Pennsylvania 16861689  Dominion of New England 16911776  Massachusetts 18th century 17011776  Delaware 17121776  North Carolina 17121776  South Carolina 17131867  Nova Scotia 17331776  Georgia 17631873  Prince Edward Island 17631791  Quebec 17631783  East Florida 17631783  West Florida 17841867  New Brunswick 17911841  Lower Canada 17911841  Upper Canada 19th century 18181846  Columbia District / Oregon Country1 18411867  Province of Canada 18491866  Vancouver Island 18531863  Colony of the Queen Charlotte Islands 18581866  British Columbia 18591870  North-Western Territory 18621863  Stikine Territory 18661871  Vancouver Island and British Columbia 18671931  *Dominion of Canada2 20th century 19071949  Dominion of Newfoundland3 1Occupied jointly with the United States 2In 1931 Canada and other British dominions obtained self-government through the Statute of Westminster. see Canada's name. 3Gave up self-rule in 1934 but remained a de jure Dominion until it joined Canada in 1949. Latin America and the Caribbean  17th century 16051979  *Saint Lucia 16231883  Saint Kitts (*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 16241966  *Barbados 16251650  Saint Croix 16271979  *St. Vincent and the Grenadines 16281883  Nevis (*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 16291641  St. Andrew and Providence Islands4 since 1632  Montserrat 16321860  Antigua (*Antigua & Barbuda) 16431860  Bay Islands since 1650  Anguilla 16511667  Willoughbyland (Suriname) 16551850  Mosquito Coast (protectorate) 16551962  *Jamaica since 1666  British Virgin Islands since 1670  Cayman Islands 16701973  *Bahamas 16701688  St. Andrew and Providence Islands4 16711816  Leeward Islands 18th century 17621974  *Grenada 17631978  Dominica since 1799  Turks and Caicos Islands 19th century 18311966  British Guiana (Guyana) 18331960  Windward Islands 18331960  Leeward Islands 18601981  *Antigua and Barbuda 18711964  British Honduras (*Belize) 18821983  *St. Kitts and Nevis 18891962  Trinidad and Tobago 20th century 19581962  West Indies Federation 4Now the San Andrs y Providencia Department of Colombia Africa  18th century 17921961  Sierra Leone 17951803  Cape Colony 19th century 18061910  Cape Colony 18101968  Mauritius 18161965  Gambia 18561910  Natal 18681966  Basutoland (Lesotho) 18741957  Gold Coast (Ghana) 18821922  Egypt 18841966  Bechuanaland (Botswana) 18841960  British Somaliland 18871897  Zululand 18881894  Matabeleland 18901965  Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) 5 18901962  Uganda 18901963  Zanzibar (Tanzania) 18911964  Nyasaland (Malawi) 18911907  British Central Africa Protectorate 18931968  Swaziland 18951920  East Africa Protectorate 18991956  Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 20th century 19001914  Northern Nigeria 19001914  Southern Nigeria 19001910  Orange River Colony 19001910  Transvaal Colony 19061954  Nigeria Colony 19101931  South Africa 19111964  Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) 19141954  Nigeria Colony and Protectorate 19151931  South West Africa (Namibia) 19191960  Cameroons (Cameroon) 6 19201963  Kenya 19221961  Tanganyika (Tanzania) 6 19541960  Nigeria 19791980  Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) 5 5Southern Rhodesia issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 (as Rhodesia) and returned to British control in 1979. 6League of Nations mandate Asia  17th Century 1685-1824  Bencoolen (Sumatra) 18th century 17021705  Cn o 17571947  Bengal (West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh) 17621764  Philippines 17951948  Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 17961965  Maldives 19th century 18191826  British Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore) 18261946  Straits Settlements 18391967  Colony of Aden 18391842  Afghanistan 18411997  Hong Kong 18411941  Kingdom of Sarawak (Malaysia) 18581947  British India (India Pakistan and Bangladesh Burma) 18791919  Afghanistan 18821963  British North Borneo (Malaysia) 18851946  Unfederated Malay States 18881984  Sultanate of Brunei 18881946  Sultanate of Sulu 18911971  Muscat and Oman protectorate 18921971  Trucial States protectorate 18951946  Federated Malay States 18981930  Weihai Garrison 18781960  Cyprus 20th century 19181961  Kuwait protectorate 19201932  Iraq6 19211946  Transjordan6 19231948  Palestine6 19451946  South Vietnam 19461948  Malayan Union 19461963  Sarawak (Malaysia) 19481957  Federation of Malaya (Malaysia) since 1960  Akrotiri and Dhekelia (before as part of Cyprus) since 1965  British Indian Ocean Territory 6League of Nations mandate Oceania  18th century 17881901  New South Wales 19th century 18031901  Van Diemen's Land/Tasmania 18071863  Auckland Islands7 18241980  New Hebrides (Vanuatu) 18241901  Queensland 18291901  Swan River Colony/Western Australia 18361901  South Australia since 1838  Pitcairn Islands 18411907  Colony of New Zealand 18511901  Victoria 18741970  Fiji8 18771976  British Western Pacific Territories 18841949  Territory of Papua 18881965  Cook Islands7 18891948  Union Islands (Tokelau)7 18921979  Gilbert and Ellice Islands9 18931978  British Solomon Islands10 20th century 19001970  Tonga (protected state) 19001974  Niue7 19011942  *Commonwealth of Australia 19071953  *Dominion of New Zealand 19191942  Nauru 19451968  Nauru 19191949  Territory of New Guinea 19491975  Territory of Papua and New Guinea11 7Now part of the *Realm of New Zealand 8Suspended member 9Now Kiribati and *Tuvalu 10Now the *Solomon Islands 11Now *Papua New Guinea Antarctica and South Atlantic  17th century since 1659  St. Helena12 19th century since 1815  Ascension Island12 since 1816  Tristan da Cunha12 since 1833  Falkland Islands13 20th century since 1908  British Antarctic Territory14 since 1908  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands13 14 12Since 2009 part of Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Ascension Island (1922) and Tristan da Cunha (1938) were previously dependencies of St Helena 13Occupied by Argentina during the Falklands War of AprilJune 1982 14Both claimed in 1908; territories formed in 1962 (British Antarctic Territory) and 1985 (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) v d eDialects and accents of Modern English by continent Africa Cameroon  Liberian  Malawian  Namibian  Nigerian   South African  Ugandan  Kenyan Asia Burmese  Chinese  Hong Kong   Indian   Malaysian   Pakistani  Philippine  Singaporean   Sri Lankan  Thai  Vietlish Europe Ireland Cork  Dublin  Ulster United Kingdom Black British  Black Country  Brummie  Cockney  Cumbrian  East Anglian  East Midlands  Estuary  Geordie  Kentish  Lancashire  Mackem  Mancunian  Multicultural London  Norfolk  Northern  Pitmatic  Potteries  Received Pronunciation  Scottish (Glaswegian  Highland)  Scouse  Southern  Sussex  Ulster   West Midlands  Welsh (Cardiff)  West Country  Yorkshire Other Czech  Dutch   Gibraltarian   Guernsey  Jersey  Maltese  Manx  Swedish North America United States African American Vernacular  Appalachian  Baltimorese  Boston  Cajun  California  Central Pennsylvania  Chicano  General American  Hawai'i English  Hudson Valley  Inland Northern American  Midland  New England  New Jersey  New York City  North Central American  Northeast Pennsylvania  Pacific Northwest  Pennsylvania Dutch English  Philadelphia  Pittsburgh  Southern American  Texan  Tidewater  Western  Yat  Yeshivish  Yooper Canada Cape Breton  Lunenburg  Maritimer  Newfoundland  Ottawa Valley Twang  Quebec  West/Central Canadian Other Belizean  Bermudian  Bahamian  Caribbean  Jamaican   Trinidadian South America Falkland Islands  Guyanese Oceania Australia General Australian  Broad Australian  Cultivated Australian  South Australian  Western Australian  Australian Aboriginal  Torres Strait  Victorian English  Queensland English Other New Zealand  Pitkern v d eEnglish-speaking world Anglosphere Dark blue: Countries and territories where English is an official language and spoken natively by a significant population. Light blue: Countries and territories where English is an official language but less widely spoken. Click on the coloured regions to view the related article.     Regions where English is an official language and spoken by a significant population Africa Mauritius  Saint Helena  Americas (Anglo-America) Anguilla  Antigua and Barbuda  The Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Bermuda  British Virgin Islands  Canada  Cayman Islands  Dominica  Falkland Islands  Grenada  Guyana  Jamaica  Montserrat  Puerto Rico  Saba  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Saint Eustatius  Sint Maarten  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands  Trinidad and Tobago  Turks and Caicos Islands  United States  United States Virgin Islands Asia Hong Kong  Philippines  Singapore Europe Gibraltar  Guernsey  Ireland  Isle of Man  Jersey  Malta  United Kingdom Oceania American Samoa  Australia  Christmas Island  Guam  Marshall Islands  Federated States of Micronesia  Nauru  New Zealand  Norfolk Island  Northern Mariana Islands  Palau  Vanuatu   Regions where English is an official language but not as widely spoken Africa Botswana  Cameroon  Gambia  Ghana  Kenya  Lesotho  Liberia  Malawi  Namibia  Nigeria  Rwanda  Sierra Leone  Somaliland  South Africa  Sudan  Swaziland  Tanzania  Uganda  Zambia  Zimbabwe Asia India  Pakistan    Oceania Cook Islands  Fiji  Niue  Papua New Guinea  Pitcairn Islands  Solomon Islands  Tokelau  Tuvalu Coordinates: 181338N 630256W / 18.22723N 63.04899W / 18.22723; -63.04899