Background: The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the northern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John and inflicted severe damage to structures, roads, the airport on Saint Thomas, communications, and electricity. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed over the island of Saint Croix in the southern Virgin Islands, inflicting considerable damage with heavy winds and flooding rains.

Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 1,910 km²
Land: 346 km²
Water: 1,564 km²
Comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 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 flat land

Elevation
Highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural resources: pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Land use
Agricultural land: 11.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 57.4% (2018 est.)
Other: 31.1% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 1 km² (2012)

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
Distribution: while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix: 105,413 (2022 est.)
Growth rate: -0.45% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line: 28.9% (2002 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
Adjective: Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups: Black 76%, White 15.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 4.9%, mixed 2.1% (2010 est.)
Note: 17.4% self-identify as Latino

Languages: English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)

Religions: Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 19.71% (male 10,671/female 10,192)
15-24 years: 10.16% (male 5,219/female 5,535)
25-54 years: 36.07% (male 17,844/female 20,342)
55-64 years: 14.24% (male 7,222/female 7,859)
65 years and over: 19.82% (male 9,424/female 11,562) (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 64.6
Youth dependency ratio: 32
Elderly dependency ratio: 34
Potential support ratio: 3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 41.8 years
Male: 40.6 years
Female: 42.8 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.45% (2022 est.)

Birth rate: 11.63 births/1000 population (2022 est.)

Death rate: 8.78 deaths/1000 population (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.35 migrant(s)/1000 population (2022 est.)

Population distribution: while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix

Urbanization
Urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.65 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 8.65 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 6.59 deaths/1000 live births (2022 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.27 years
Male: 77.08 years
Female: 83.65 years (2022 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: NA

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Virgin Islands
Former: Danish West Indies
Abbreviation: VI
Etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

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)
Etymology: originally called Taphus in Danish - meaning "tap house" or "beer house" because of its many beer halls - the town received a more dignified name in 1691 when it was named Charlotte Amalie in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V’s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel (1650-1714)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 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
History: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory
Amendments: amended several times, last in 2012

Legal system: US common law

Citizenship: see United States

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN, Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)
Head of government: Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019), Lieutenant Governor Tregenza ROACH (since 7 January 2019)
Cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate
Elections and appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of 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 directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026)
Election results: Albert BRYAN, Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 56%, Kurt VIALET (independent) 38%

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections: Legislature of the Virgin Islands last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)
US House of Representatives last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)
Election results:
Note: the Virgin Islands to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by the US Congress in 2004 and assumed appellate jurisdiction in 2007
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term
Subordinate courts: Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district); District Court of the Virgin Islands

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Stacey PLASKELL]
Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Dale BLYDEN]
Republican Party [John CANEGATA]

International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

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"
Lyrics and music: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.
Note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2013 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 68.2% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 26.8% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 7.5% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: 15% (2016 est.) NA
Exports of goods and services: 46.7% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -64.3% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2% (2012 est.)
Industry: 20% (2012 est.)
Services: 78% (2012 est.)

Agriculture products: fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Industries: tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics

Industrial production growth rate: NA

Labor force: 48,550 (2016 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 1%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 80% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Population below poverty line: 28.9% (2002 est.)

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

Budget
Revenues: $1.496 billion (2016 est.)
Expenditures: $1.518 billion (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $-0.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 28.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Exports:
Partners: Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019)

Imports:
Partners: India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019)

Debt external: NA

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2020)
Installed generating capacity: 321,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 561.24 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission distribution losses: 51 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 98.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 16,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 3,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 23,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.438 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.438 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 76,000 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 59,121 (2018)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 204.5 (2019)

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

Internet
Country code: .vi
Users total: 68,268 (2019 est.)
Users percent of population: 64% (2019 est.)

Airports
Total: 2 (2021)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2021)

Roadways
Total: 1,260 km (2008)

Merchant marine
Total: 1,868
By type: bulk carrier 91, container ship 39, general cargo 1,205, oil tanker 118, other 415 (2019)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay

Disputes international: none identified