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.

Area
Total: 352 km²
Land: 349 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 188 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth)
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: none

Climate:

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

Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use: arable land: 15%; permanent crops: 6%; meadows and pastures 26%; forest and woodland 6%; other 47%

Population: 98,942 (July 1992), growth rate -1.0% (1992)

Nationality: noun - 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), but Spanish and Creole are widely spoken

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

Birth rate: 21 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: -26 migrants/1000 population (1992)

Environment
Current issues: rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources
Current issues note:

Infant mortality rate: 13 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 77 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1992)

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Country name
Conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States

Government type:

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

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

Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system: based on US

Suffrage: universal at age 18
Governor:
Senate: last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives: last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results - Ron DE LUGO reelected as nonvoting delegate seats - (1 total); seat by party NA; note - the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives

Executive branch: US president, popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor

Legislative branch: unicameral Senate

Judicial branch:

International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation: 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

Economy 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. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at Saint Croix.
GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion, per capita $11,000; real growth rate NA% (1987)

Agriculture products:

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

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 12%

Labor force: 45,500 (1988)
Organized labor: 90% of the government labor force

Unemployment rate: 2.0% (1990)

Budget: revenues $364.4 million; expenditures $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodoties: refined petroleum products
Partners: US, Puerto Rico

Imports: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodoties: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Partners: US, Puerto Rico

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Electricity
Production: 358,000 kW capacity; 532 million kWh produced, 5,360 kWh per capita (1990)

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m; international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix