2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

346 sq km

total

1,910 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

highest point

Crown Mountain 474 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

5.71%

other

91.43% (2005)

permanent crops

2.86%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.4% (male 11,394/female 11,048) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 33,843/female 38,574) 65 years and over: 13.6% (male 6,747/female 8,219) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

11.51 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

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

female

6.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

8.14 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

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

female

82.41 years (2010 est.)

male

76.14 years

total population

79.19 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA (2005 est.)

male

NA

total population

90-95% est.

Median age

female

40.2 years (2010 est.)

male

39.2 years

total

39.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Virgin Islander

noun

Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-5.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

109,750 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.072% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.059 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

95% of total population (2008)

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

geographic coordinates

18 21 N, 64 56 W

name

Charlotte Amalie

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Country name

abbreviation

USVI

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

cabinet

NA (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

election results

John DeJONGH reelected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 56.3%, Kenneth MAPP 43.6%

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)

head of government

Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)

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

based on US laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

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)

elections

last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)

National anthem

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)

name

"Virgin Islands March"

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

Agriculture - products

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

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

722 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

776.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$4.234 billion (2001)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum products

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

19%

services

80% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.577 billion (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.609 billion (2001)

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)

Labor force

49,820 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

19%

services

80% (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

88,820 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

388,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

480,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

16,870 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

28.9% (2002)

Unemployment rate

6.2% (2004)

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)

Internet users

30,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

full range of services available

general assessment

modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay

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

75,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

80,300 (2005)

Airports

2 (2010)

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)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 17,675 females age 16-49: 21,070 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

849 (2010 est.)

male

805

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 11, 2011 ======================================================================