Virgin Islands (VQ)
Introduction
| 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. |
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Geography
| Location |
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
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| Geographic coordinates |
18 20 N, 64 50 W
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| Map references |
Central America and the Caribbean
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| Area |
total: 1,910 sq km
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 sq km
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| Area - comparative |
twice the size of Washington, DC
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| Land boundaries |
0 km
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| Coastline |
188 km
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| Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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| Climate |
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
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| Terrain |
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
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| Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m
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| Natural resources |
sun, sand, sea, surf
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| Land use |
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43% (2005)
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| Irrigated land |
NA
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| Natural hazards |
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
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| Environment - current issues |
lack of natural freshwater resources
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| 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
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People
| Population |
108,448 (July 2007 est.)
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| Age structure |
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)
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| Median age |
total: 37.7 years
male: 36.7 years
female: 38.5 years (2007 est.)
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| Population growth rate |
-0.171% (2007 est.)
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| Birth rate |
13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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| Death rate |
6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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| Net migration rate |
-8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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| Sex ratio |
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female
total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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| Infant mortality rate |
total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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| Life expectancy at birth |
total population: 79.2 years
male: 75.4 years
female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)
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| Total fertility rate |
2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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| Nationality |
noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Virgin Islander
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| Ethnic groups |
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
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| Religions |
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
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| Languages |
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
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| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)
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Government
| Country name |
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI
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| 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
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| Government type |
NA
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| 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)
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| 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
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| Independence |
none (territory of the US)
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| National holiday |
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
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| Constitution |
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
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| Legal system |
based on US laws
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| Suffrage |
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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| Executive branch |
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
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; 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%
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| Political parties and leaders |
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders |
NA
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| International organization participation |
IOC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
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| Flag description |
white, 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
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Economy
| 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, 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.577 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
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| Labor force |
43,980 (2004 est.)
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| Labor force - by occupation |
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
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| Unemployment rate |
6.2% (2004)
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| Population below poverty line |
28.9% (2002)
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| Household income or consumption by percentage share |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2003)
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| Budget |
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
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| Agriculture - products |
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
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| Industries |
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
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| Industrial production growth rate |
NA%
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| Electricity - production |
996.1 million kWh (2005)
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| Electricity - consumption |
926.4 million kWh (2005)
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| Electricity - exports |
0 kWh (2005)
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| Electricity - imports |
0 kWh (2005)
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| Oil - production |
17,620 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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| Oil - consumption |
98,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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| Oil - exports |
397,400 bbl/day (2004)
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| Oil - imports |
493,000 bbl/day (2004)
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| Oil - proved reserves |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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| Natural gas - production |
0 cu m (2005 est.)
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| Natural gas - consumption |
0 cu m (2005 est.)
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| Natural gas - exports |
0 cu m (2005 est.)
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| Natural gas - imports |
0 cu m (2005)
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| Natural gas - proved reserves |
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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| Exports |
$4.234 billion (2001)
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| Exports - commodities |
refined petroleum products
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| Exports - partners |
US, Puerto Rico (2006)
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| Imports |
$4.609 billion (2001)
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| Imports - commodities |
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
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| Imports - partners |
US, Puerto Rico (2006)
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| Economic aid - recipient |
$NA
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| Debt - external |
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
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| Exchange rates |
the US dollar is used
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| Fiscal year |
1 October - 30 September
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Communications
| Telephones - main lines in use |
71,700 (2005)
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| Telephones - mobile cellular |
80,300 (2005)
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| 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
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| Radio broadcast stations |
AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)
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| Television broadcast stations |
5 (2006)
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| Internet country code |
.vi
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| Internet hosts |
4,116 (2007)
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| Internet users |
30,000 (2005)
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Transportation
| Airports |
2 (2007)
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| Airports - with paved runways |
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
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| Roadways |
total: 1,257 km (2004)
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| Ports and terminals |
Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay
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Military
| Military - note |
defense is the responsibility of the US
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Transnational Issues
| Disputes - international |
none
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This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008
