Statistical information U.S. Virgin Islands 1993

U.S. Virgin Islands in the World
top of pageBackground: During the 17th century the archipelago was divided into two territorial units one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane produced by 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.
top of pageLocation:
in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of
Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 352 km²
Land: 349 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
ElevationNatural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Arable land: 15%
Permanent crops: 6%
Meadows and pastures: 26%
Forest and woodland: 6%
Other: 47%
Land useIrrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 98,130 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: -0.76% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Virgin Islander(s)
Adjective: Virgin Islander; US citizens
Ethnic groups: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%; black 80%, white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Total population: NA%
Female: NA%
Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: -0.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 20.26 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -22.64 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources
Current issues 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
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 12.54 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.29 years
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 77.2 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracySchool life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
Conventional short form: Virgin Islands
Government type:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the
Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Dependent areasIndependenceNational holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system: based on US
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: US president, popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Senate US District Court: handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases Territorial Court: handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims,
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ECLAC (associate), IOC
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (territory of the US)
Flag description
: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: $11,000 (1987)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products:
truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum,
Senepol cattle
Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 12%; accounts for NA% of GDP
Labor force: 45,500 (1988)
By occupation: tourism 70%
Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1992)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $364.4 million; expenditures $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: refined petroleum products
Partners: US, Puerto Rico
Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodoties: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Partners: US, Puerto Rico
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricityProduction: 380,000 kW capacity; 565 million kWh produced, 5,710 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2
Usable: 2
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs