Virgin Islands

• several hurricanes in recent years;
• frequent and severe droughts and floods;
• occasional earthquakes

• 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

noun:

Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)

adjective:

Virgin Islander

total:

43.4 years (2025 est.)

male:

42.1 years

female:

43.9 years

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.81 male(s)/female

total population:

0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

80.7 years (2024 est.)

male:

77.6 years

female:

84.1 years

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

urban population:

96.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

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

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Virgin Islands

former:

Danish West Indies

abbreviation:

VI

etymology:

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

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

name:

Charlotte Amalie

geographic coordinates:

18 21 N, 64 56 W

time difference:

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

etymology:

named in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V’s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel, after the colony was established in 1672

chief of state:

President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

head of government:

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

cabinet:

Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate

election/appointment process:

• 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, but they can vote in the Democratic and Republican party 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)

most recent election date:

8 November 2022

election results:

2022: Albert BRYAN, Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 56%, Kurt VIALET (independent) 38%;

• 2018: 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 0.3%

expected date of next election:

November 2026

highest court(s):

Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)

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

• Democratic Party
• Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM
• Republican Party

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 its left, with a shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel

meaning:

white is a symbol of purity, and the letters stand for the Virgin Islands

title:

"Virgin Islands March"

lyrics/music:

multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.

history:

adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; _____

title:

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

lyrics/music:

Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

history:

official anthem, as a US territory

• high-income, tourism-based American territorial economy;
• severe COVID-19 economic disruptions;
• major rum distillery;
• high public debt;
• sluggish reopening of large oil refinery;
• environmentally susceptible to hurricanes;
• many informal industries

total:

25.3% (2024 est.)

male:

22% (2024 est.)

female:

28.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

• about a dozen TV stations, including 1 public TV station;
• multi-channel cable and satellite TV available;
• 24 radio stations

total ports:

6 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

3

very small:

3

ports with oil terminals:

3

key ports:

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