Virgin Islands Population: 104,737
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| 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 | |
| Location: | Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico |
| Geographic coordinates: | 18 20 N, 64 50 W |
| Area: | total: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km Size comparison: 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: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 1 sq km |
| Natural hazards: | several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes |
| Current Environment Issues: | lack of natural freshwater resources |
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| People | |
| Population: | 104,737 (July 2013 est.) |
| 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: 40.9 years male: 40.4 years female: 41.4 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.5% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 79.47 years male: 76.43 years female: 82.69 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.77 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| 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) |
| Religions: | Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7% |
| Languages: | English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA female: NA (2005 est.) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI |
| 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 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012) 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 2 November 2010 (next to be held on November 2012) |
| Judicial branch: | US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) |
| 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) |
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| Economy | |
| 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): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.577 billion (2004 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $NA |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2% (2002 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $14,500 (2004 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) |
| Labor force: | 49,820 (2007 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 6.2% (2004) |
| Population below poverty line: | 28.9% (2002) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2003) |
| Budget: | revenues: $837 million expenditures: $837 million (FY08/09) |
| Agriculture - products: | fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle |
| Industries: | tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | 872 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 811 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Exports: | $4.234 billion (2001) |
| Exports - commodities: | refined petroleum products |
| Imports: | $4.609 billion (2001) |
| 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 |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 75,800 (2010) country comparison to the world: 153 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 80,300 (2005) |
| 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .vi |
| Internet hosts: | 4,790 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 30,000 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 2 (2012) country comparison to the world: 207 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012) |
| Roadways: | total: 1,260 km (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: | Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay |
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| Military | |
| Defense is the responsibility of the US | |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 17,542 females age 16-49: 20,946 (2010 est.) |
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