Central America and Caribbean :: Virgin Islands (territory of the US)

EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL

## Introduction ::Virgin Islands

Background:
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

## Geography ::Virgin Islands

Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,910 sq km country comparison to the world: 182 land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land: 2.86% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 94.29% (2011)
Irrigated land:
1 sq km (2011)
Natural hazards:
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources
Geography - note:
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

## People and Society ::Virgin Islands

Nationality:
noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
Languages:
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Religions:
Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%
Population:
104,737 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 9,669/female 9,407) 15-24 years: 10.6% (male 5,075/female 6,063) 25-54 years: 39.3% (male 18,698/female 22,444) 55-64 years: 14.1% (male 7,036/female 7,750) 65 years and over: 17.8% (male 8,431/female 10,164) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 43.5 years male: 43.7 years female: 43.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.53% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 224
Birth rate:
10.69 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Death rate:
7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Net migration rate:
-8.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Urbanization:
urban population: 95% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 54,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.83 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 163 male: 7.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.61 years country comparison to the world: 40 male: 76.57 years female: 82.83 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
78.4% note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2002)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA female: NA (2005 est.)

## Government ::Virgin Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI
Dependency status:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
Constitution:
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
US common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: NA (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2014) election results: John DeJONGH reelected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 56.3%, Kenneth MAPP 43.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2012 (next to be held on November 2014)
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by US Congress in 2004 and assumed appellate jurisdiction in 2007 judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices initially serve renewable 10-year terms; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term subordinate courts: Superior Court (renamed in 2004 vice the Territorial Court); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district); District Court of the Virgin Islands
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON] Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS] Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in its right talon and three arrows in the left with a superimposed shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel; white is a symbol of purity, the letters stand for the Virgin Islands
National anthem:
name: "Virgin Islands March" lyrics/music: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr. note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

## Economy ::Virgin Islands

Economy - overview:
Tourism, trade, and other services are the primary economic activities, accounting for roughly 57% of GDP and about half of total civilian employment in 2010. Goods-producing industries accounted for 23% of GDP in 2010 and government represented 20%. The islands hosted nearly 2.74 million visitors - 2.2 million cruise ship and 536,000 air passengers - in 2011. The manufacturing sector consists of rum distilling, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agriculture sector is small, with most food being imported. The islands are vulnerable to damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.577 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,500 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
49,820 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2004) country comparison to the world: 64
Population below poverty line:
28.9% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $837 million expenditures: $837 million (FY08/09)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2003) country comparison to the world: 50
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries:
tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$4.234 billion (2001) country comparison to the world: 118
Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products
Imports:
$4.609 billion (2001) country comparison to the world: 131
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

## Energy ::Virgin Islands

Electricity - production:
872 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - consumption:
811 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
323,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Crude oil - imports:
425,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Refined petroleum products - production:
493,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
106,100 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Refined petroleum products - exports:
390,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Refined petroleum products - imports:
5,180 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
11.95 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

## Communications ::Virgin Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
75,800 (2010) country comparison to the world: 154
Telephones - mobile cellular:
80,300 (2005) country comparison to the world: 196
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay domestic: full range of services available international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA (2010)
Broadcast media:
about a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.vi
Internet hosts:
4,790 (2012) country comparison to the world: 146
Internet users:
30,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 181

## Transportation ::Virgin Islands

Airports:
2 (2012) country comparison to the world: 207
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Roadways:
total: 1,260 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 179
Ports and terminals:
Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay

## Military ::Virgin Islands

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,542 females age 16-49: 20,946 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 744 female: 788 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

## Transnational Issues ::Virgin Islands

Disputes - international:
none

EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL