1991 Edition

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

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

Coastline

80 km

188 km

Comparative area

about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Environment

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October

rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources

Land boundaries

none

Land use

arable land 20%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures 33%; forest and woodland 7%; other 33%

arable land 15%; permanent crops 6%; meadows and pastures 26%; forest and woodland 6%; other 47%

Maritime claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm

Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth); Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

negligible

sun, sand, sea, surf

Note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

important location 1,770 km southeast of Miami and 65 km east of Puerto Rico, 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

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Total area

150 km2; land area: 150 km2

352 km2; land area: 349 km2

Birth rate

19 births/1,000 population (1991)

22 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate

5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic divisions

black over 90%, remainder of white and Asian origin

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%; black 80%, white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14%

Infant mortality rate

14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

19 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force

4,911 (1980)

45,500 (1988)

Language

English (official)

English (official), but Spanish and Creole are widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 77 years female (1991)

70 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Literacy

98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)

NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Nationality

noun--British Virgin Islander(s); adjective--British Virgin Islander

noun--Virgin Islander(s); adjective--Virgin Islander

Net migration rate

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

- 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor

NA% of labor force

90% of the government labor force

Population

12,396 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

99,404 (July 1991), growth rate 0.7% (1991)

Religion

Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)

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

Total fertility rate

2.1 children born/woman (1991)

2.7 children born/woman (1991)

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Capital

Road Town

Charlotte Amalie

Communists

probably none

Constitution

1 June 1977

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 serves as the constitution

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Elections

Legislative Council--last held 12 November 1990 (next to be held by November 1995); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(9 total) VIP 6, IPM 1, independent 2

Governor--last held NA 1986 (next to be held NA 1990); results--Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) defeated Adelbert BRYAN (ICM); Senate--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA; US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)

US president, governor, lieutenant governor

Flag

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an 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

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

US District Court handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases; Territorial Court handles civil matters up to $50,000 small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases

Leaders

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986); Head of Government--Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)

Chief of State and Head of Government--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989), represented by Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE (since 5 January 1987)

Legal system

English law

based on US

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council

unicameral Senate

Long-form name

none

Virgin Islands of the United States

Member of

CARICOM (observer), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)

ECLAC (associate), IOC

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

Transfer Day (from Denmark to US), 31 March (1917)

Political parties and leaders

United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT; Independent People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY

Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

Suffrage

universal at age 18

universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Type

dependent territory of the UK

organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Agriculture

livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle

Budget

revenues $32.8 million; expenditures $32.4 million, including capital expenditures of $6.3 million (FY90)

revenues $470 million; expenditures $322 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

Currency

US currency is used

US currency is used

Economic aid

NA

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $34.5 million

Electricity

10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced, 3,510 kWh per capita (1990)

358,000 kW capacity; 532 million kWh produced, 5,360 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

US currency is used

Exports

$2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals; partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--refined petroleum products; partners--US, Puerto Rico

External debt

$4.5 million (1985)

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

1 October-30 September

GDP

$106.7 million, per capita $8,900; real growth rate 2.5% (1987)

$1.0 billion, per capita $9,000; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Imports

$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery; partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

$3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials; partners--US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production

growth rate - 4.0% (1985)

growth rate 12%

Industries

tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.0% (1987)

NA%

Overview

The economy is highly dependent on the tourist industry, which generates about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government offered offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and, in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2 million in 1987. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at Saint Croix.

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

2.0% (1990)

Airports

3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways less than 1,220 m

2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m; international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix

Highways

106 km motorable roads (1983)

856 km total

Ports

Road Town

Saint Croix--Christiansted, Frederiksted; Saint Thomas--Long Bay, Crown Bay, Red Hook; Saint John--Cruz Bay

Telecommunications

3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone service; submarine cable communication links to Bermuda; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

44,280 telephones; stations--4 AM, 6 FM, 3 TV; modern system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities; 90,000 radios; 56,000 TVs

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK _%_

defense is the responsibility of the US _%_