Anguilla

The Health in the Americas+¹ country profiles are based on the interagency indicators available as of the dates referenced. The sources are referenced in this table. In some cases, the values of the indicators may differ from the most recent data available in the country.

Environmental and social determinants of health

In 2000 the total population of Anguilla was 11 047 inhabitants; by 2023 this figure had risen to 15 899, representing a 43.9% increase. Regarding the country’s demographic profile, in 2023 people over 65 years of age accounted for 11.2% of the total population, an increase of 3.9 percentage points compared to the year 2000. In 2023, there were 104.7 women per 100 men and 66.2 older people (65 years or older) per 100 children under 15 years of age, as can be seen in the country’s population pyramids, distributed by age group and sex (Figure 1). Considering the population between 15 and 64 years of age to be potentially active (i.e., potential participants in the labor force), this group represented 71.9% of the total population of the country in 2023 (11 439 people). When we add these figures to the potentially passive population (2 685 under 15 years of age and 1 776 over 65 years of age), the result is a dependency ratio of 39.0 potentially passive people per 100 potentially active people. This ratio was 55.3 in 2000.

Life expectancy at birth in 2023 was 77.6 years, higher than the average for the Region of the Americas and 1.6 years higher that in 2000.

Figure 1. Population pyramids, years 2000 and 2023

The literacy rate was in 2020 95.7% for men and 95.4% for women, in 2001, the average number of years of schooling in Anguilla was of 10.5 years, this is the latest year for which information is available.

The health situation

Maternal and child health

In 2020 the infant mortality in was of 21,1 per 1000 live births. The proportion of low birth weight births (<2,500 grams) increased from 6.5% to 8.5% between 2002 and 2020.

Regarding the immunization strategy, measles vaccination coverage was 86.0% in 2022, a decrease of 13.0 percentage points from 2000.

The maternal mortality ratio for zero for 2021, the latest information available (Figure 5). In relation to fertility, it is estimated that in 2023 women had an average of 1.3 children throughout their reproductive lives. In the specific case of adolescent fertility, there was a 41.1% decrease, from 49.5 live births per 1000 women aged 15 to 19 years in 2000 to 29.2 in 2023. In 2020, 100% of births were attended by skilled birth personnel. In the period between 2010 and 2012, there was no variation in the percentage of prenatal care, which remained at 100%.

Figure 4. Infant mortality per 1000 live births, 2001–2020

Communicable diseases

In 2021, 0 new cases of Tuberculosis per 100 000 population were recorded in Anguilla. In 2020, the estimated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection incidence rate (new diagnoses) was 12.8 per 100 000 population.

Noncommunicable diseases and risk factors

In Anguilla, the prevalence of tobacco use among people aged 15 and older was 5.8% in 2016. In the same age group, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 70.1% in 2016.

Also in 2016, 34.9% of the population reported insufficient physical activity.

Status of the COVID-19 Pandemic

During 2020, there were a total of 13 cases of COVID-19 in Anguilla, representing 826 per million population. In 2021, the number of identified cases amounted to 1,661, equivalent to 105 per million inhabitants, while in 2022, the number of reported cases was 2,095, equivalent to 133 cases per million inhabitants. With regard to deaths directly caused by COVID-19, in 2020, no deaths of persons diagnosed with COVID-19 were reported, while in 2021, 5 were reported, representing 318 deaths per million inhabitants, in 2022 were reported 12 deaths, equivalent to 445 deaths per million inhabitants. In the Region of the Americas, Anguilla ranked 47th in the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in 2020, moved to position 46th in 2021 and in 2022 ranked 13th, with a cumulative figure for the years of 762,7 deaths per million population (Figure 5).

By December 31, 2021, 70.8% of the country's population had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine administered. By April 20, 2022 (latest available data), 66% of the population was fully vaccinated. The vaccination campaign started on February 20, 2021 and so far 2 types of COVID-19 vaccines have been used in the country.

Perspectives

Life expectancy at birth has continued its steady increase. This trend is expected to continue.

From a maternal and child health standpoint, the country has shown an increase in under-five mortality compared to 2000.

Chronic noncommunicable diseases represent an important priority in the government agenda, as evidenced by the approval of the national action plan for noncommunicable diseases 2016-2025.

With respect to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected to continue with the vaccination strategy, optimizing the coverage of complete vaccination schedules and reinforcing access to booster doses.

The sources of the interagency indicators used in this profile can be found in this table.

For the latest data on health indicators for the Region of the Americas, be sure to visit the PAHO Core Indicators portal.