2021 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. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the northern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John and inflicted severe damage to structures, roads, the airport on Saint Thomas, communications, and electricity. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed over the island of Saint Croix in the southern Virgin Islands, inflicting considerable damage with heavy winds and flooding rains.

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

highest point

Crown Mountain 474 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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 (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

11.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.7% (2018 est.)

forest

57.4% (2018 est.)

other

31.1% (2018 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

pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Population distribution

while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix

Terrain

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land

Age structure

0-14 years

19.71% (male 10,671/female 10,192)

15-24 years

10.16% (male 5,219/female 5,535)

25-54 years

36.07% (male 17,844/female 20,342)

55-64 years

14.24% (male 7,222/female 7,859)

65 years and over

19.82% (male 9,424/female 11,562) (2021 est.)

Birth rate

11.84 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

NA

Death rate

8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

34

potential support ratio

2.9 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

66

youth dependency ratio

32

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 98.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.3% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Black 76%, White 15.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 4.9%, mixed 2.1% (2010 est.)

note

note: 17.4% self-identify as Latino

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

6.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

8.82 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.81 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

83.45 years (2021 est.)

male

76.84 years

total population

80.05 years

Major urban areas - population

52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

42.8 years (2020 est.)

male

40.6 years

total

41.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Virgin Islander

noun

Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-7.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Population

105,870 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix

Population growth rate

-0.42% (2021 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 100% of population (2017 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.95 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.88 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

96% of total population (2021)

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

etymology

originally called Taphus in Danish - meaning "tap house" or "beer house" because of its many beer halls - the town received a more dignified name in 1691 when it was named Charlotte Amalie in honor of Danish King Christian V’s wife, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714)

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

amendments

amended several times, last in 2012

history

22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory

Country name

abbreviation

VI

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Virgin Islands

etymology

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)

former

Danish West Indies

Dependency status

unincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the federal government 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 Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)

election results

Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other .3%

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 6 November 2018 with a runoff on 20 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)

head of government

Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019), Lieutenant Governor Tregenza ROACH (since 7 January 2019)

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

unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Independence

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by the 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 serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; 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 Legislature of the Virgin Islands (15 seats; senators directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 2-year terms)the Virgin Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term

election results

Legislature of the Virgin Islands - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 13, independents 2; composition - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7%delegate to US House of Representatives - seat by party - Democratic Party 1; composition - 1 woman

elections

Legislature of the Virgin Islands last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)US House of Representatives last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)

note

note: the Virgin Islands to the US House of Representatives 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

National anthem

lyrics/music

multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.

name

Virgin Islands March

note

note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the US, "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 [Stacey PLASKELL]Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Dale BLYDEN]Republican Party [John CANEGATA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Agricultural products

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget

expenditures

1.518 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

1.496 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Debt - external

NA

Economic overview

Tourism, trade, other services, and rum production are the primary economic activities of the US Virgin Islands (USVI), accounting for most of its GDP and employment. The USVI receives between 2.5 and 3 million tourists a year, mostly from visiting cruise ships. The islands are vulnerable to damage from storms, as evidenced by the destruction from two major hurricanes in 2017. Recovery and rebuilding have continued, but full recovery from these back-to-back hurricanes is years away. The USVI government estimates it will need $7.5 billion, almost twice the territory’s GDP, to rebuild the territory.The agriculture sector is small and most food is imported. In 2016, government spending (both federal and territorial together) accounted for about 27% of GDP while exports of goods and services, including spending by tourists, accounted for nearly 47%. Federal programs and grants, including rum tax cover-over totaling $482.3 million in 2016, contributed 32.2% of the territory’s total revenues. The economy picked up 0.9% in 2016 and had appeared to be progressing before the 2017 hurricanes severely damaged the territory’s infrastructure and the economy.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

Exports 2015

$1.537 billion (2015 est.)

Exports 2016

$1.81 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019)

Exports - partners

Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

46.7% (2016 est.)

government consumption

26.8% (2016 est.)

household consumption

68.2% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services

-64.3% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

7.5% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories

15% NA (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2% (2012 est.)

industry

20% (2012 est.)

services

78% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.182 billion (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2015

$1.549 billion (2015 est.)

Imports 2016

$2.489 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019)

Imports - partners

India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015

2.6% (2015 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

1% (2016 est.)

Labor force

48,550 (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

19%

services

80% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

28.9% (2002 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2014

45.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Public debt 2016

53.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2013 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$3.622 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$3.759 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016

$3.872 billion (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2014

-1% (2014 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2015

0.3% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

0.9% (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2014

$34,500 (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2015

$35,800 (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2016

$37,000 (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

11% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

10.4% (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

654.7 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

98% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

325,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

704 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,240 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

3,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

23,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 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

Internet country code

.vi

Internet users

percent of population

64.38% (2019 est.)

total

67,200 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

full range of services available; fixed-line 72 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular 75 per 100 (2019)

general assessment

modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expansion of FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launches; regulatory development and expansion in several markets point to investment and focus on data (2020)

international

country code - 1-340; landing points for the BSCS, St Thomas-ST Croix System, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas II, GCN, MAC, PAN-AM and SAC submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA (2020)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

72.41 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

76,000 (2017)

Airports

total

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2019)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 91, container ship 39, general cargo 1,205, oil tanker 118, other 415 (2019)

total

1,868

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

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

Roadways

total

1,260 km (2008)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international

none

Climate

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

Environment - current issues

lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing

Land use

agricultural land

11.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.7% (2018 est.)

forest

57.4% (2018 est.)

other

31.1% (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

96% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

146,500 tons (2012 est.)