1993 Edition

Area

total area: 150 km2 land area: 150 km2 comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes the island of Anegada

total area: 352 km2 land area: 349 km2 comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

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

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

International disputes

none

none

Irrigated land

NA km2

NA km2

Land boundaries

0 km

0 km

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%

Location

in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto Rico

in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation 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 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

Birth rate

20.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

20.26 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate

6.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black 90%, white, Asian

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

19.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force

4,911 (1980) by occupation: NA

45,500 (1988) by occupation: tourism 70%

Languages

English (official)

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.62 years male: 70.77 years female: 74.6 years (1993 est.)

total population: 75.29 years male: 73.6 years female: 77.2 years (1993 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%

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

Nationality

noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander

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

Net migration rate

-2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

-22.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population

12,707 (July 1993 est.)

98,130 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate

1.22% (1993 est.)

-0.76% (1993 est.)

Religions

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

2.28 children born/woman (1993 est.)

2.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Abbreviation

BVI

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

none (territory of the US)

Capital

Road Town

Charlotte Amalie

Chief of State

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Peter Alfred PENFOLD (since NA 1991)

President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)

Constitution

1 June 1977

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Digraph

VI

VQ

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of UK)

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

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

US president, popularly elected governor and 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

Governor

last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - Governor Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) 56.5% defeated Juan LUIS (independent) 38.5%

Head of Government

Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)

Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987)

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Legal system

English law

based on US

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council

unicameral Senate

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, independents 2

Member of

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

ECLAC (associate), IOC

Names

conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands

conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States conventional short form: Virgin Islands

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

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

Political parties and leaders

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

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

Senate

last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) number of seats by party NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal

Territorial Court

handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases

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

US District Court

handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases

US House of Representatives

last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results - Ron DE LUGO reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total); seat by party NA; note - the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of Representatives

Agriculture

livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

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

Budget

revenues $51 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)

revenues $364.4 million; expenditures $364.4 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 (1970-89), $42 million

Electricity

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

380,000 kW capacity; 565 million kWh produced, 5,710 kWh per capita (1992)

Exchange rates

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

$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990) 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

Imports

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

$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials partners: US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production

growth rate 4.0% (1985)

growth rate 12%; accounts for NA% of GDP

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)

2.5% (1990 est.)

NA%

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $133 million (1991)

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion (1987)

National product per capita

$10,600 (1991)

$11,000 (1987)

National product real growth rate

2% (1991)

NA%

Overview

The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean area, 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. The economy slowed in 1991 because of the poor performances of the tourist sector and tight commercial bank credit. 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. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.

Unemployment rate

NEGL% (1992)

3.7% (1992)

Airports

total: 3 usable: 3 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m:

total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways : 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2 note: 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; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities; 58,931 telephones; 98,000 radios; 63,000 TV sets in use; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV (1988)

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

defense is the responsibility of the US