Virgin Islands

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

50 (2000)

Internet country code

.vi

Internet users

12,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios

107,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA

Telephones - main lines in use

62,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,000 (1992)

Television broadcast stations

2 (2002)

Televisions

68,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget

revenues: $364.4 million expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

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, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. 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. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment.

Electricity - consumption

948.6 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

1.02 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (1999) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum products

Exports - partners

US, Puerto Rico

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Imports - partners

US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

48,356

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

4.9% (March 1999)

Area

total: 352 sq km water: 3 sq km land: 349 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November

Coastline

188 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Environment - current issues

lack of natural freshwater resources

Geographic coordinates

18 20 N, 64 50 W

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% other: 79% (1998 est.)

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Natural resources

sun, sand, sea, surf

Terrain

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

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

Capital

Charlotte Amalie

Constitution

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Country name

conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies

Dependency status

organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001) election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de Jongh 24.4% elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006) head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999) cabinet: NA

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

Government type

NA

International organization participation

ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on US laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected

National holiday

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012) 15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443) 65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

black 80%, white 15%, other 5% 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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.43 years female: 82.53 years (2002 est.) male: 74.55 years

Literacy

definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

123,498 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.04% (2002 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

2 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

Highways

total: 856 km paved: NA km note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000) unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none