Virgin Islands

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

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)

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

Agriculture - products

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget

revenues: $837 million expenditures: $837 million (FY08/09)

Debt - external

$NA

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.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum products

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.577 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,500 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2003) country comparison to the world: 77

Labor force

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

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

28.9% (2002)

Unemployment rate

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

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

18.59 million Mt (2011 est.)

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 - production

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

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

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 - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

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 - production

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

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 - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

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

Refined petroleum products - production

423,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

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

Climate

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

Coastline

188 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Environment - current issues

lack of natural freshwater resources

Geographic coordinates

18 20 N, 64 50 W

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

Irrigated land

1 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.86% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 94.29% (2011)

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Natural resources

sun, sand, sea, surf

Terrain

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

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

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)

Constitution

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

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 theWorld 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%

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

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

Legal system

US common law

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)

National anthem

name: "Virgin Islands March"

National holiday

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

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.

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

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.)

Birth rate

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

Contraceptive prevalence rate

78.4% note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2002)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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

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.)

Ethnic groups

black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.75 years country comparison to the world: 40 male: 76.7 years female: 82.97 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 60,000 (2011)

Median age

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

Nationality

noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

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

Population

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

Population growth rate

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

Religions

Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%

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.)

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.)

Total fertility rate

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

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

none

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)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay

Roadways

total: 1,260 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 180