The five administrative subdivisions mentioned on some web pages are just statistical divisions, without any administrative relevance:
| Subdivision | Main town | Area km2 | Population (2010 census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38.6 | 285 | ||
| Belle Vue (Jost Van Dyke) | 8.3 | 298 | |
| 59.2 | 23,419 | ||
| 21.2 | 3,939 | ||
| Other Islands | Great Harbour (Peter Island) | 23.7 | 122 |
| British Virgin Islands | 151.0 | 28,054 | |
The "Other Islands" are mainly the islands south of Tortola (separated from it by the Sir Francis Drake Channel and southwest of Virgin Gorda and detached Ginger Island, mainly Norman Island, Peter Island, Cooper Island and Salt Island. These islands are also known under the informal name Little Sisters or Southern Islands.
The present-day Administrative Districts of the British Virgin Islands were established since 2003, following the provisions of the Sister Islands Programme, 2003.[1]
Tortola, the surrounding islets, and the Little Sisters/Southern Islands are directly administered by the BVI Government, as an "Island". The 3 "Sister Islands", including the neighbouring islets, are administered through 3 Districts, run by District Officers, under the Deputy Governor of the BVI[2] "in order to monitor, promote and facilitate the delivery of Government services to the sister islands of Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke". This administrative setting is similar to that of some existing or former British dependencies - The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, or the Cook Islands - among others.
The Sister Islands Programme, 2003, establishes a Coordinator which works with, and supervises the District Officers, as a liaison with the central government.[3] There are no local government structures in the Territory.
There are six Civil Registry Districts in the British Virgin Islands:
| Civil Registry District | Area |
|---|---|
| District A | Virgin Gorda |
| District B | Anegada |
| District C | East End (Tortola) |
| District D | Road Town (Tortola) |
| District E | West End (Tortola) |
| District F | Jost Van Dyke |
| Electoral District | Area |
|---|---|
| First | West End, Carrot Bay (Tortola) |
| Second | Meyers, Cane Garden Bay, Brewers Bay (Tortola) and Jost Van Dyke |
| Third | Sea Cow's Bay and surroundings (Tortola) |
| Fourth | Road Town and surroundings (Tortola) |
| Fifth | Hunthum's Ghut and Long Trench (Tortola) |
| Sixth | Baugher's Bay and East Central Tortola |
| Seventh | Long Look (Tortola) and Beef Island |
| Eighth | East End, Greenland and Hope Estate (Tortola) |
| Ninth | Virgin Gorda and Anegada |