Map of U.S. Virgin Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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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 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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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 reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 352 km²
Land: 349 km²
Water: 3 km²
Comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 188 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

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

Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use
Arable land: 15%
Permanent crops: 6%
Permanent pastures: 26%
Forests and woodland: 6%
Other: 47% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes

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


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Population: 97,240 (July 1997 est.)
Note: 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%
Growth rate: 0.18% (1997 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Virgin Islander(s)
Adjective: Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole

Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.18% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 16.72 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.7 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: NA male(s)/female
Under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
Total population: NA male(s)/female

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 12.54 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.29 years
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 77.2 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.18 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
Conventional short form: Virgin Islands
Former: Danish West Indies

Government type: NA

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)

Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system: based on US laws

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch
Chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
Head of government: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995)
Cabinet: NA
Elections: governor and lieutenant governor of the Virgin Islands elected by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998)
Election results: Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER elected governor of the Virgin Islands; percent of vote - Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
Elections: last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 6, Democrats 5, Republicans 2, Independent Citizens Movement 2
Note: the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 19 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Donna GREEN (ICM) 51.5%, Victor O. FRAZER (independent) 48.5%

Judicial branch: US District Court, handles civil matters over $200,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases; judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters of unlimited cash amount; felonies, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases; judges appointed by the governor

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ECLAC (associate), IOC

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of the US)
From 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 a yellow 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The number of US tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. 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. A major economic problem at the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental arrears, in income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Industrial production growth rate: 12% (year NA)

Labor force
Total: 47,443 (1990 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 1%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 62%
By occupation other: 17% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 6.2% (March 1994)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $364.4 million
Expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1990 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports
Total value: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: refined petroleum products
Partners: US, Puerto Rico

Imports
Total value: $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
Commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Partners: US, Puerto Rico

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: US currency is used


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 990 million kWh (1994)

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 9,565 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system
Domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
International: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 2
Note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2

Airports with paved runways
Total: 2
15-24 to 2437 m: 2

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs