Anguilla Country Statistics

LOCATION

Anguilla is in the Eastern Caribbean and is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands. The island is located 6 miles (9 km) north of the island of Saint Martin and 165 miles (26.5 km) east of Puerto Rico. It also shares maritime borders with Antigua and Barbuda and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ECONOMY

Anguilla’s economy remains heavily dependent on the tourism sector, particularly the high-end segment. In recent years, the country’s airlift has strengthened, supported by airport upgrades and the introduction of direct international flights from its main source market, the United States, since 2021 through Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport. However, many visitors continue to access the island via neighbouring Sint Maarten, particularly through Princess Juliana International Airport, which remains a key regional gateway, with onward connections to Anguilla by ferry or short regional flights.

The structure of the economy reflects this reliance on tourism and related services. Between 2021 and 2025, accommodation and food service activities accounted for approximately 20 percent of GDP. The financial services sector contributed around 11 percent of GDP, while the real estate and construction sectors each accounted for approximately 9 percent over the same period.

Following the severe disruption caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017, which led to an economic contraction of 6.4 percent, and the subsequent 29.4 percent contraction in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Anguilla’s economy has recorded a strong recovery. Real GDP growth rebounded sharply to 29.3 percent in 2022, before moderating to 1.4 percent in 2023, strengthening to 5.7 percent in 2024, and easing to 3.2 percent in 2025. This pattern reflects a normalisation from a rapid post-pandemic rebound to more stable, tourism-led growth. In line with this recovery, the composition of output has remained broadly consistent with recent trends. In 2025, accommodation and food service activities accounted for 23.7 percent of gross value added, making it the largest contributor to output. Financial and insurance activities contributed 10.6 percent, while construction and real estate accounted for 9.3 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively.

The tourism sector’s performance remained strong in 2025, with total visitor arrivals reaching a record 229,734, representing an increase of 11.3 percent over 2024 and 38.1 percent above pre-pandemic levels. Growth was broad-based across all visitor categories. Stay-over arrivals increased by 3 percent compared to 2024, while excursionist arrivals rose by 21 percent. Activity was strongest during the January to March and October to December periods, which coincide with the peak winter season in its main source market, the United States.

In the fiscal sphere, Anguilla has benefited significantly in recent years from the rapid expansion of revenue from .ai domain registrations. While the country has maintained ownership of the .ai country code since 1995, demand for these domains increased with the rapid growth in the global artificial intelligence industry. Revenue from domain sales began gaining momentum from 2016 and reached double-digit levels by 2019, before surging further following the launch of ChatGPT in 2023. By 2025, .ai domain sales accounted for more than 30 percent of current revenue.

The expansion of .ai-related income has provided an important buffer for public finances, supporting fiscal balances and reducing reliance on tourism-related revenue. In line with this, Anguilla’s fiscal position strengthened in 2025, with the overall surplus increasing to 12.1 percent of GDP, up from 7 percent in 2024. At the same time, public debt declined to 20.8 percent of GDP, reflecting continued fiscal consolidation and the absence of new borrowing.

Looking ahead, the outlook remains broadly positive, supported by continued tourism and construction activity. The country’s fiscal accounts are also expected to benefit from sustained .ai domain revenue. However, downside risks remain. The growing reliance on .ai-related revenue introduces uncertainty, as demand could moderate if global interest in artificial intelligence softens. In addition, as a tourism-dependent economy, Anguilla remains vulnerable to external shocks, including geopolitical tensions, such as the ongoing conflict in the middle east and slower growth in key source markets, which could weigh on visitor arrivals and government revenue.