Central America :: Virgin Islands

- Introduction :: Virgin Islands
- Background:
  The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the northern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John and inflicted severe damage to structures, roads, the airport on Saint Thomas, communications, and electricity. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed over the island of Saint Croix in the southern Virgin Islands, inflicting considerable damage with heavy winds and flooding rains.
- 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
  land: 346 sq km
  water: 1,564 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 182
  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 flat land
  Elevation:
  0 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea
  474 highest point: Crown Mountain
  Natural resources:
  pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 11.5% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 2.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 2.9% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 5.7% (2011 est.)
  forest: 57.4% (2011 est.)
  other: 31.1% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
  Natural hazards:
  several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
  Environment - current issues:
  lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing
  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
- Population:
  106,977 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Nationality:
  noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
  adjective: Virgin Islander
  Ethnic groups:
  black 76%, white 15.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 4.9%, mixed 2.1% (2010 est.)

  note: 17.4% self-identify as latino

  Languages:
  English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)
  Religions:
  Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20.26% (male 11,102 /female 10,570)
  15-24 years: 10.87% (male 5,665 /female 5,965)
  25-54 years: 36.87% (male 18,454 /female 20,987)
  55-64 years: 13.92% (male 7,039 /female 7,851)
  65 years and over: 18.08% (male 8,802 /female 10,542) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Central America :: Virgin Islands Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Virgin Islands. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 60.8 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 32.8 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 28 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 3.6 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 41.3 years
  male: 40.1 years
  female: 42.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Population growth rate:
  -0.3% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  Birth rate:
  12.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Death rate:
  8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Net migration rate:
  -7.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Population distribution:
  while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 95.7% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 0.82 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 79.5 years (2018 est.)
  male: 76.3 years (2018 est.)
  female: 83 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Total fertility rate:
  2.06 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved: urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 96.4% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 96.4% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 96.4% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Major infectious diseases:

  note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

- Government :: Virgin Islands
- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Virgin Islands
  former: Danish West Indies
  abbreviation: VI
  etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
  Dependency status:
  unincorporated organized 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:
  presidential democracy; a self-governing territory of the US
  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 3 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:
  history: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this territory of the US (2018)
  amendments: revised 1962, 2000 (2018)
  Legal system:
  US common law
  Citizenship:
  see United States
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by the 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 serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term
  subordinate courts: Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); 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
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)
  head of government: Governor Kenneth MAPP (since 5 January 2015), Lieutenant Governor Osbert POTTER (since 5 January 2015)
  cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate
  elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of 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 directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)
  election results:

  Albert BRYAN (Democratic Party) 37.9%, incumbent Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.7%, Adlah Donastorg, Jr. (independent) 16.4%; a runoff will be held 20 November 2018

  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 2-year terms)
  elections: last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 13, independent 2

  note: the Virgin Islands directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)

  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party [Donna M. CHRISTENSEN]
  Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Dale BLYDEN]
  Republican Party [John CANEGATA]
  International organization participation:
  AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), 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 US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

- Economy :: Virgin Islands
- Economy - overview:

  Tourism, trade, other services, and rum production are the primary economic activities of the US Virgin Islands (USVI), accounting for most of its GDP and employment. The USVI receives between 2.5 and 3 million tourists a year, mostly from visiting cruise ships. The islands are vulnerable to damage from storms, as evidenced by the destruction from two major hurricanes in 2017. Recovery and rebuilding have continued, but full recovery from these back-to-back hurricanes is years away. The USVI government estimates it will need $7.5 billion, almost twice the territory’s GDP, to rebuild the territory.

  The agriculture sector is small and most food is imported. In 2016, government spending (both federal and territorial together) accounted for about 27% of GDP while exports of goods and services, including spending by tourists, accounted for nearly 47%. Federal programs and grants, including rum tax cover-over totaling $482.3 million in 2016, contributed 32.2% of the territory’s total revenues. The economy picked up 0.9% in 2016 and had appeared to be progressing before the 2017 hurricanes severely damaged the territory’s infrastructure and the economy.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $3.872 billion (2016 est.)
  $3.759 billion (2015 est.)
  $3.622 billion (2014 est.)

  note: data are in 2013 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 181
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $5.182 billion (2016 est.) (2016 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  0.9% (2016 est.)
  0.3% (2015 est.)
  -1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $37,000 (2016 est.)
  $35,800 (2015 est.)
  $34,500 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 68.2% (2016 est.)
  government consumption: 26.8% (2016 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 7.5% (2016 est.)
  investment in inventories: 15% NA (2016 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 46.7% (2016 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -64.3% (2016 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2% (2012 est.)
  industry: 20% (2012 est.)
  services: 78% (2012 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
  Industries:
  tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics
  Industrial production growth rate:
  NA
  Labor force:
  48,550 (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 1%
  industry: 19%
  services: 80% (2003 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  10.4% (2017 est.)
  11% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Population below poverty line:
  28.9% (2002 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA
  highest 10%: NA
  Budget:
  revenues: 1.496 billion (2016 est.)
  expenditures: 1.518 billion (2016 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  28.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Public debt:
  53.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
  45.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1% (2016 est.)
  2.6% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Exports:
  $1.81 billion (2016 est.)
  $1.537 billion (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Exports - commodities:
  rum
  Imports:
  $2.489 billion (2016 est.)
  $1.549 billion (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
  Debt - external:

  NA

  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  (31 December 2009 est.)
  Exchange rates:

  the US dollar is used

- Energy :: Virgin Islands
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 10,295 (2012)
  electrification - total population: 91% (2012)
  electrification - urban areas: 91% (2012)
  electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)
  Electricity - production:
  704 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Electricity - consumption:
  654.7 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  325,000 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  98% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  1,240 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  3,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  23,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  2.764 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
- Communications :: Virgin Islands
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 76,000 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay (2016)
  domestic: full range of services available (2016)
  international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA (2016)
  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 users:
  total: 57,000 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 54.8% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
- Transportation :: Virgin Islands
- Airports:
  2 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2 (2013)
  over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 1,260 km (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay
- Military and Security :: Virgin Islands
- Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US
- Transnational Issues :: Virgin Islands
- Disputes - international:
  none