Virgin Islands

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

Internet hosts

8,933 (2010) country comparison to the world: 129

Internet users

30,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 180

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

Telephones - main lines in use

75,800 (2010) country comparison to the world: 153

Telephones - mobile cellular

80,300 (2005) country comparison to the world: 194

Agriculture - products

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget

revenues: $837 million expenditures: $837 million (FY08/09)

Debt - external

$NA

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.

Electricity - consumption

784.5 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

843.6 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$4.234 billion (2001) country comparison to the world: 116

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum products

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.577 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,500 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.609 billion (2001) country comparison to the world: 120

Imports - commodities

crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2003) country comparison to the world: 69

Labor force

49,820 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Labor force - by occupation

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

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Oil - consumption

85,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Oil - exports

380,800 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Oil - imports

442,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Oil - production

17,440 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Population below poverty line

28.9% (2002)

Unemployment rate

6.2% (2004) country comparison to the world: 58

Area

total: 1,910 sq km country comparison to the world: 182 land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 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 September 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

1 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)

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

name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 abbreviation: USVI

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 Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: NA (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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%

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

IOC, UPU, WFTU

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)

Legal system

US common law

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)

National anthem

name: "Virgin Islands March" lyrics/music: 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)

National holiday

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 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; 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.

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 17,542 females age 16-49: 20,946 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 744 female: 788 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 10,886/female 10,470) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 33,280/female 38,210) 65 years and over: 15.3% (male 7,626/female 9,194) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

11.41 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Death rate

7.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.24 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 165 male: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.33 years country comparison to the world: 38 male: 76.29 years female: 82.55 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA female: NA (2005 est.)

Major cities - population

CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 54,000 (2009)

Median age

total: 40.4 years male: 39.9 years female: 40.8 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

-5.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Population

109,666 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Population growth rate

-0.08% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Religions

Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.058 male(s)/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 (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Urbanization

urban population: 95% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 208

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay

Roadways

total: 1,260 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 179