Virgin Islands

organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office ofIndependence none (territory of the US)

Virgin Islands as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 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
1992

Every edition of Virgin Islands

Populationas each edition published it
98,942 people July 1992 · 99,200 in 1990
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 1992 · 2.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
13 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 19 in 1990
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

13 fields
Total area
352km2
Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
188km
land boundaries: noneContiguous zone: 12 nmContinental shelf: 200 m (depth)Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land area

349 km2

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

Land use

  • arable land 15%;
  • permanent crops 6%;
  • meadows and pastures 26%;
  • forest and woodland 6%;
  • other 47%

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;
  • Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

People

14 fields
Population
98,942
(July 1992), growth rate -1.0% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth
21Death
5Net migration
-26

Religions

Baptist 42%Roman Catholic 34%Episcopalian 17%other 7%
Labor force
45,500
(1988)

Infant mortality rate

13 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth

74 years male, 77 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate

2.7 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality

  • noun - Virgin Islander(s);
  • adjective - Virgin Islander;
  • US citizens

Ethnic divisions

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

Languages

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

Literacy

NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Organized labor

90% of the government labor force

Government

Organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of

18 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

National holiday

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

Executive branch

US president, popularly elected governor and 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

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government:
  • President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
  • Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987);
  • Lieutenant Governor Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987)

Political parties and leaders

  • Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON;
  • Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN;
  • Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Elections

Governor:
  • last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994);
  • results - Governor Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) 56.5% defeated Juan LUIS (independent) 38.5%
Senate:
  • last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (15 total) number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives:
  • last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
  • results - Ron DE LUGO reelected as nonvoting delegate seats - (1 total);
  • seat by party NA;
  • note - the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives

Member of

ECLAC (associate), IOC, applied for associate membership in OECS in February 1990

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

Budget

Revenues
$364.4 millionExpenditures
$364.4 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

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, most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at Saint Croix.

GDP

purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion, per capita $11,000; real growth rate NA% (1987)

Exports

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988)

commodities:
refined petroleum products
partners:
US, Puerto Rico

Imports

$3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)

commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
partners:
US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production

growth rate 12%

Electricity

358,000 kW capacity; 532 million kWh produced, 5,360 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

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

Agriculture

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

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42 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

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

Airports

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

Telecommunications

  • 44,280 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV;
  • modern system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities;
  • 98,000 radios;
  • 63,000 TV (1988)

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Central Intelligence Agency. “Virgin Islands.” The World Factbook 1992. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/virgin-islands/1992.

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