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.

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total area total: 352 km²
Land: 349 km²
Comparative: slightly less than 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 tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November

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%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Population: 97,229 (July 1995 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: -0.29% (1995 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%

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

Population growth rate: -0.29% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 18.49 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -16.17 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Environment
Current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
Current issues natural hazards: rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes
Current issues international agreements: NA

Infant mortality rate: 12.54 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.29 years
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 77.2 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Literacy: NA%

Country name
Conventional 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)

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

Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system: based on US

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 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); Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995); election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (Independent) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral
Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) Democrats 7, Independents 7, Republican 1
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (Independent) 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) Independent 1; note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House of Representatives

Judicial branch
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, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases

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 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. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $11,000 (1987)

Agriculture products: truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle

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

Industrial production growth rate: 12% (year NA; accounts for NA% of GDP

Labor force: 45,500 (1988)
By occupation: tourism 70%

Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1992)

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

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Exports: $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

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Electricity
Capacity: 320,000 kW
Production: 970 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 9,172 kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 58,931 telephones; modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: NA

Airports: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
Note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none