Virgin Islands

Internet country code

.vi

Internet users

30,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA

Telephones - main lines in use

69,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

41,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

2 (2002)

Agriculture - products

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget

revenues: $560 expenditures: NA (2003)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

NA

Economic aid - recipient

NA

Economy - overview

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and 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, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.

Electricity - consumption

957.9 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.03 billion kWh (2001)

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 - $2.5 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2002 est.)

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)

2.2% (2003)

Labor force

48,900 (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Unemployment rate

9.3% (2003 est.)

Area

total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 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: 11.76% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 85.29% (2001)

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

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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) head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) cabinet: NA 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) election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%

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

Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU

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 2 November 2004) 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 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 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 - island residents 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: 23.8% (male 13,116; female 12,770) 15-64 years: 66% (male 33,944; female 37,870) 65 years and over: 10.2% (male 4,855; female 6,220) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

14.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

black 78%, white 10%, other 12% note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.75 years male: 74.91 years female: 82.82 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 35.9 years male: 35.1 years female: 36.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

-8.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

108,775 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.05% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.21 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

2 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix