Statistical information U.S. Virgin Islands 1998

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: 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 CaribbeanAreaTotal: 352 km²
Land: 349 km²
Water: 3 km²
Comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claimsExclusive 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land useArable land: 15%
Permanent crops: 6%
Permanent pastures: 26%
Forests and woodland: 6%
Other: 47% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes
GeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulation: 118,211 (July 1998 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: 1.16% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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 profileAge structure0-14 years: 29% (male 17,310; female 16,502)
15-64 years: 64% (male 34,434; female 40,645)
65 years and over: 7% (male 4,065; female 5,255) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.16% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.45 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.01 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.13 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 9.6 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 78.3 years
Male: 74.68 years
Female: 82.15 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1998 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 expendituresLiteracy: NA
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
Conventional short form: Virgin Islands
Former: Danish West Indies
Government typeCapitalAdministrative divisionsDependent areasIndependenceNational holidayConstitutionLegal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrageExecutive branchLegislative branchJudicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationFlag description
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overviewReal gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture productsIndustriesIndustrial production growth rateLabor forceUnemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetTaxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal yearInflation 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 balanceExportsImportsReserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricityCoalPetroleumCrude 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 prefixAirportsHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs