2015 Edition

Background

The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, 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

1 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 2.9%; permanent pasture 5.7%

agricultural land

11.5%

forest

57.4%

other

31.1% (2011 est.)

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 flat land

Age structure

0-14 years

17.47% (male 9,124/female 8,966)

15-24 years

9.87% (male 4,642/female 5,576)

25-54 years

38.71% (male 18,103/female 21,994)

55-64 years

14.49% (male 7,194/female 7,819)

65 years and over

19.46% (male 9,110/female 11,046) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

10.31 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

8.54 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

28.4%

potential support ratio

3.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

61.2%

youth dependency ratio

32.8%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

black 76%, white 15.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 4.9%, mixed 2.1%

note

17.4% self-identify as latino (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

5.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

7.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.64 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.11 years (2015 est.)

male

76.84 years

total population

79.89 years

Major urban areas - population

CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 52,000 (2014)

Median age

female

44.7 years (2015 est.)

male

45.2 years

total

44.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Virgin Islander

noun

Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-7.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

103,574 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.59% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.4% of population

rural: 96.4% of population

total: 96.4% of population

urban: 3.6% of population

rural: 3.6% of population

total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.83 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.82 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.83 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.87 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.25% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

95.3% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 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)

Citizenship

see United States

Constitution

22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this territory of the US; revised 1962, 2000 (2015)

Country name

abbreviation

USVI

conventional long form

United States Virgin Islands

conventional short form

Virgin Islands

former

Danish West Indies

note

the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

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

Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate

chief of state

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

election results

Kenneth MAPP elected governor; percent of vote in runoff - Kenneth MAPP (independent) 63.9%, Donna CHRISTIAN-CHRISTIANSEN (Democratic Party) 36.1%

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of 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 directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018)

head of government

Governor Kenneth MAPP (since 5 January 2015), Lieutenant Governor Osbert POTTER (since 5 January 2015)

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

AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by US Congress in 2004 and assumed appellate jurisdiction in 2007

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices initially serve renewable 10-year terms; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term

subordinate courts

Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district); District Court of the Virgin Islands

Legal system

US common law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 2-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

elections

last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)

note

the Virgin Islands directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.

name

"Virgin Islands March"

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; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Agriculture - products

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget

expenditures

$1.551 billion (2013)

revenues

$1.223 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.5% of GDP (2013)

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Tourism, trade, and other services are the primary economic activities, accounting for nearly 60% of the Virgin Island's GDP and about half of total civilian employment. The islands host nearly 3 million tourists per year, mostly from visiting cruise ships. The islands are vulnerable to damage from storms. The agriculture sector is small, with most food being imported. Industry and government each account for about one-fifth of GDP. Federal programs and grants, totaling $241.4 million in 2013, contributed 19.7% of the territory’s total revenues. The manufacturing sector consists of rum distilling, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. A refinery on St. Croix, one of the world’s largest, processed 350,000 barrels of crude oil a day until it was shut down in February 2012, after operating for 45 years. The economy declined in 2013, due to decreases in exports resulting from the loss of refined oil products. Nevertheless, the economy remains relatively diversified. Along with a vibrant tourism industry, rum exports, trade, and services will be major income sources in future years.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$2.627 billion (2013)

$3.339 billion (2012)

Exports - commodities

rum

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

69.3%

government consumption

28%

household consumption

63.6%

imports of goods and services

69.3% (2013)

investment in fixed assets

6.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2%

industry

20%

services

78% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$36,100 (2013 est.)

$39,300 (2012 est.)

$40,500 (2011 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-5.4% (2013 est.)

-13.8% (2012 est.)

-7.5% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.075 billion (2013)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.792 billion (2013 est.)

$4.143 billion (2012)

$4.288 billion (2011)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.694 billion (2013)

$3.056 billion (2012)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2012)

Labor force

50,580 (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

19%

services

80% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

28.9% (2002 est.)

Public debt

45.9% of GDP (2014)

Taxes and other revenues

24.1% of GDP (2013)

Unemployment rate

13% (2014)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

12.41 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

4,493 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

723.5 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

316,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

777.9 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

110,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

43,710 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

131,400 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

29,350 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

about a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations (2009)

Internet country code

.vi

Internet users

percent of population

28.1% (2009)

total

30,000

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)

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 (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

73 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

76,100

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

74 (2005)

total

80,300

Television broadcast stations

5 (2006)

Airports

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

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

Roadways

total

1,260 km (2008)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

20,946 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

17,542

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

788 (2010 est.)

male

744

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international

none