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.

Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N 64 50 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 1910 km²
Rank: 181
Land: 346 km²
Water: 1564 km²
Comparative: twice the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 188 km

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

Climate: subtropical tempered by easterly trade winds relatively low humidity little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September 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: 5.71%
Permanent crops: 2.86%
Other: 91.43% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

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

Population: 109,750 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 189
Growth rate: -0.072% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 207
Below poverty line: 28.9% (2002)

Nationality
Noun: Virgin Islander
Adjective: Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups: black 76.2% white 13.1% Asian 1.1% other 6.1% mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

Languages: English 74.7% Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8% French or French Creole 6.6% other 1.9% (2000 census)

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 20.4%
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 33,843/female 38,574)
65 years and over: 13.6% (male 6,747/female 8,219) (2010 est.)

Median age
Total: 39.8 years
Male: 39.2 years
Female: 40.2 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.072% (2010 est.)
Rank: 207

Birth rate: 11.51 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 170

Death rate: 6.96 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 132

Net migration rate: -5.27 migrant(s)/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 199

Urbanization
Urban population: 95% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Environment
Current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.059 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.4 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 166
Male: 8.14 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 6.63 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.19 years
Rank: 38
Male: 76.14 years
Female: 82.41 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 155

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 90-95% est.
Male: NA
Female: NA (2005 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
Conventional short form: Virgin Islands
Former: Danish West Indies
Abbreviation: USVI

Government type: NA

Capital
Name: Charlotte Amalie
Geographic coordinates: 18 21 N 64 56 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

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

Independence: none (territory of the US)

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

Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system: based on US laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA ; Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
Head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
Cabinet: NA
Elections: under the US Constitution residents of unincorporated territories such as the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)
Election results: John DeJONGH reelected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 56.3% Kenneth MAPP 43.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
Elections: last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10 ICM 2 independent 3
Note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2010 (next to be held on November 2012)

Judicial branch: US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]

International organization participation: IOC UPU WFTU

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

Flag description: white field 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 its right talon and three arrows in the left with a superimposed shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel; white is a symbol of purity the letters stand for the Virgin Islands

National anthem
Name: 'Virgin Islands March'
Lyricsmusic: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS Sr.
Note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United States 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is official (see United States)

Economy overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.4 million visitors in 2008. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining rum distilling textiles electronics pharmaceuticals and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline to support construction projects in the private sector to expand tourist facilities to reduce crime and to protect the environment.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $1.577 billion (2004 est.)
Rank: 193

Real gdp growth rate: 2% (2002 est.)
Rank: 149

Real gdp per capita: $14,500 (2004 est.)
Rank: 80

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1%
Industry: 19%
Services: 80% (2003 est.)

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: 49,820 (2007 est.)
Rank: 189
By occupation agriculture: 1%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 80% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6.2% (2004)
Rank: 59

Population below poverty line: 28.9% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.2% (2003)
Rank: 62

Exports: $4.234 billion (2001)
Rank: 116
Commodities: refined petroleum products

Imports: $4.609 billion (2001)
Rank: 120
Commodities: crude oil foodstuffs consumer goods building materials

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Production: 776.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 151
Consumption: 722 million kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 150
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 113
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 163
Exports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Exports rank: 100
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 116
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 121

Telephones
Main lines in use: 75,000 (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 150
Mobile cellular: 80,300 (2005)
Mobile cellular rank: 190

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system with total digital switching uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
Domestic: full range of services available
International: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US the Caribbean Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA

Broadcast media: about a dozen television broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations broadcasting (2009)

Internet
Country code: .vi
Hosts: 8,933 (2010)
Hosts rank: 129
Users: 30,000 (2009)
Users rank: 180

Airports: 2 (2010)
Rank: 201
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways
Total: 1260 km
Rank: 179

Ports and terminals: Charlotte Amalie Christiansted Cruz Bay Frederiksted Limetree Bay

Disputes international: none