Virgin Islands
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land 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 Area: total: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Coastline: 188 km Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC Irrigated land: NA Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes Land use: arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.92 years male: 75.9 years female: 82.11 years (2008 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA% female: NA% (2005 est.) Net migration rate: -5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census) Median age: total: 38.5 years male: 38 years female: 39 years (2008 est.) Population: 109,840 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: NA Population growth rate: 0.002% (2008 est.) Languages: English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census) Death rate: 6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 11,698/female 11,390) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,035/female 38,670) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 6,312/female 7,735) (2008 est.) Birth rate: 12.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Nationality: noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US) National holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Government type: NA Political pressure groups and leaders: NA Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) 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 International organization participation: IOC, UPU, WFTU Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) Legal system: based on US laws 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 one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel Independence: none (territory of the US) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Capital: name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 Executive branch: chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: NA 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 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010) election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7% 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 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)
Economy	Back To Top
Electricity - consumption: 892.8 million kWh (2006 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Debt - external: $NA Unemployment rate: 6.2% (2004) Oil - exports: 398,500 bbl/day (2005) GDP - per capita (PPP): $14,500 (2004 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.577 billion (2004 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $NA Exchange rates: the US dollar is used GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2002 est.) Labor force: 43,980 (2004 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2003) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) Oil - imports: 492,300 bbl/day (2005) Exports: $4.234 billion (2001) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Currency (code): US dollar (USD) Economy - overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. 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. Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Imports - commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Population below poverty line: 28.9% (2002) Electricity - production: 960 million kWh (2006 est.) Imports: $4.609 billion (2001) Oil - proved reserves: NA Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) Oil - consumption: 91,680 bbl/day (2007 est.) Currency code: USD Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products Economic aid - recipient: $NA Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Oil - production: 17,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 30,000 (2007) Telephones - main lines in use: 71,700 (2005) Televisions: 68,000 (1997) Internet country code: .vi Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005) Radios: 107,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 80,300 (2005) Television broadcast stations: 5 (2006) Telephone system: general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay domestic: full range of services available international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 50 (2000) Internet hosts: 4,610 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) Roadways: total: 1,257 km (2007) Airports: 2 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 861 female: 897 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none

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