Country Guide

U.S. Virgin Islands Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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 kmcountry comparison to the world: 182
land:346 sq km
water:1,564 sq km


Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC


Land boundaries:
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

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:
104,170 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 195


Age structure:
0-14 years:17.8% (male 9,386/female 9,207)
15-24 years:10.3% (male 4,931/female 5,801)
25-54 years:39% (male 18,350/female 22,231)
55-64 years:14.3% (male 7,123/female 7,796)
65 years and over:17.8% (male 8,758/female 10,587) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:60.2 %
youth dependency ratio:33.3 %
elderly dependency ratio:26.9 %
potential support ratio:3.7 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:44.2 years
male:44.5 years
female:44 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
-0.56% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 224


Birth rate:
10.49 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 184


Death rate:
8.24 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 91


Net migration rate:
-7.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 207


Urbanization:
urban population:95.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:-0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 60,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.85 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.83 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.83 male(s)/female
total population:0.88 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:6.79 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 163
male:7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female:6.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:79.75 yearscountry comparison to the world: 40
male:76.7 years
female:82.97 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 165


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
78.4%


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 (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 96.4% of population
rural: 96.4% of population
total: 96.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.6% of population
rural: 3.6% of population
total: 3.6% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:90-95% est.
male:NA
female:NA (2005 est.)

Government

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:
22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this territory of the US (2013)


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
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:
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

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. The islands hosted nearly 2.74 million visitors - 2.2 million cruise ship and 536,000 air passengers - in 2011. Industry and government each account for about one-fifth of GDP. 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: 145

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,500 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:1%
industry:19%
services:80% (2003 est.)


Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle


Industries:
tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics


Industrial production growth rate:
NA%


Labor force:
49,820 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:1%
industry:19%
services:80% (2003 est.)


    Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 63

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)


Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 77

Exports:
$4.234 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 119

Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products


Imports:
$4.609 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 133

Imports - commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials


Debt - external:
$NA


Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity - production:
794 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Electricity - consumption:
767.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
323,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138


Crude oil - production:
14,880 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203


Crude oil - imports:
402,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204


Refined petroleum products - production:
423,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
106,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Refined petroleum products - exports:
316,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22


Refined petroleum products - imports:
5,732 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 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 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
18.59 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
75,800 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 152


Telephones - mobile cellular:
80,300 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 197


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

Airports
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 207


Airports - with paved runways
total:2
over 3,047 m:1
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

Manpower fit for military service
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
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook