Virgin Islands

organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the InteriorIndependence none (territory of the US)

Virgin Islands as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalCharlotte Amalie
Area352 km2
1990

Every edition of Virgin Islands

Populationas each edition published it
99,200 people July 1990 · 103,792 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition -0.76% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 75.29 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.7 children per woman 1990 · 1.95 in 2025
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
19 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 7.2 in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $11,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 2% in 2003

Geography

14 fields

Land useshare of 352 km2

arable land 15%permanent crops 6%meadows and pastures 26%forest and woodland 6%other 47%
Total area
352km2
land area: 349 km2Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
188km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November

Terrain

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Natural resources

sun, sand, sea, surf

Environment

  • rarely affected by hurricanes;
  • subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes;
  • lack of natural freshwater resources

Note

  • important location 1,770 km southeast of Miami and 65 km east of Puerto Rico, along the Anegada Passage--a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal;
  • St. Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

People

14 fields
Population
99,200
(July 1990), growth rate - 0.3% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
22Death
5

Religion

Baptist 42%Roman Catholic 34%Episcopalian 17%other 7%
Labor force
45,000
(1987)

Net migration rate

- 20 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate

19 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

70 years male, 76 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

2.7 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Virgin Islander(s); adjective--Virgin Islander

Ethnic divisions

  • 74% West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies), 13% US mainland, 5% Puerto Rican, 8% other;
  • 80% black, 15% white, 5% other;
  • 14% of Hispanic origin

Language

English (official), but Spanish and Creole are widely spoken

Organized labor

90% of the government labor force

Government

Organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

15 fields

Long-form name

Virgin Islands of the United States

Type

organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Capital

Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US)

Independence

none (territory of the US)

Constitution

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 serves as the constitution

National holiday

Transfer Day (from Denmark to US), 31 March (1917)

Executive branch

US president, governor, lieutenant governor

Legislative branch

unicameral Senate

Judicial branch

  • US District Court handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases;
  • Territorial Court handles civil matters up to $50,000 small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases Chief of State and Head of Government--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989), represented by Governor Alexander FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987);
  • Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE (since 5 January 1987)

Political parties and leaders

  • Democratic Party, Marilyn Stapleton;
  • Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin Brown;
  • Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole Davis

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18;
  • indigenous inhabitants are US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Governor--last held NA 1986 (next to be held NA 1990);
  • results--Alexander Farrelly (Democratic Party) defeated Adelbert Bryan (ICM);
  • Senate--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held NA);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA;
  • US House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 6 November 1990);
  • results--the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative

Diplomatic representation

none (territory of the US)

Flag

  • white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I;
  • the coat of arms shows an 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

Economy

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment.

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$1.03billion
per capita $9,030; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Budget

Revenues
$315 millionExpenditures
$322 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

Overview

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small with most food imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at St. Croix.

Exports

  • $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1985);
  • commodities--refined petroleum products;
  • partners--US, Puerto Rico

Imports

  • $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1985);
  • commodities--crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials;
  • partners--US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production

growth rate 12%

Electricity

341,000 kW capacity; 507 million kWh produced, 4,650 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

tourism, government service, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Agriculture

truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $33.5 million

Currency

US currency is used

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September

Communications

4 fields

Highways

856 km total

Ports

  • St. Croix--Christiansted, Frederiksted;
  • St. Thomas--Long Bay, Crown Bay, Red Hook;
  • St. John--Cruz Bay

Airports

  • 2 total, 2 usable;
  • 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m;
  • international airports on St. Thomas and St. Croix

Telecommunications

  • 44,280 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 6 FM, 3 TV;
  • modern system using fiber optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities;
  • 90,000 radio receivers;
  • 56,000 television sets

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Central Intelligence Agency. “Virgin Islands.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/virgin-islands/1990.

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