Map of U.S. Virgin Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | 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
Comparative: twice the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 188 km

Maritime claims

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

Natural resources: sun sand sea surf

Land use

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 and floods; occasional 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: 120,917 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 1.07% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.07% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 15.96 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 5.36 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.12 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 9.64 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (2000 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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: NA

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

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

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

Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

Judicial branch: US District Court judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court judges appointed by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [James O'BRYAN Jr.]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Virdin C. BROWN]; Republican Party [James OLIVER]

International organization participation: ECLAC (associate) Interpol (subbureau) 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 islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining textile electronics pharmaceutical and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small with 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. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1999 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: fruit vegetables sorghum; Senepol cattle

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 47,443 (1990 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 1%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 79% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.9% (March 1999)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

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: $N/A
Commodities: refined petroleum products
Partners: US Puerto Rico

Imports: $N/A
Commodities: crude oil foodstuffs consumer goods building materials
Partners: US Puerto Rico

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: US currency is used


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Electricity
Production: 1.019 billion kWh (1998)
Consumption: 948 million kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 58,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 2000 (1992)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Service providers isps: 2 (1999)

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

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs