Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands of the United States

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

Virgin Islands as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 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

Locationin the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico

Populationas each edition published it

98,130 people July 1993 est. · 99,200 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-0.76% 1993 est. · -0.58% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.29 years 1993 est. · 80.7 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.64 children per woman 1993 est. · 2.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

12.54 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 19 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$11,000 1987 · $46,500 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2% in 2003

Geography

In the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico

14 fields

Land useshare of 352 km2

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

Area

352km2

land area: 349 km2comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

188km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico

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

Environment

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

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

People

14 fields

Population

98,130

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: -0.76% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

20.26Death

5.2Net migration

-22.64

Religions

Baptist 42%Roman Catholic 34%Episcopalian 17%other 7%

Labor force

45,500

(1988)by occupation: tourism 70%

Infant mortality rate

12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 75.29 years
male:: 73.6 years
female:: 77.2 years (1993 est.)

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%

Literacy

total population:: NA%
male:: NA%
female:: NA%

Government

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

18 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form:: Virgin Islands

Type

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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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

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 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (15 total) number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives:: last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994);
results - Ron DE LUGO reelected as delegate;
seats - (1 total);
seat by party NA;
note - the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of Representatives

Executive branch

US president, popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor

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:: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
Head of Government:: Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987)

Diplomatic representation in US

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.

17 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$11,000

(1987)

Unemployment rate

3.7%

(1992)

Budget

Revenues

$364.4 millionExpenditures

$364.4 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

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. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion (1987)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Exports

$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities:: refined petroleum products
partners:: US, Puerto Rico

Imports

$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)

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

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

total:: 2
usable:: 2
with permanent-surface runways :: 2
with runways over 3,659 m:: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 2

note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix

Telecommunications

modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities;
58,931 telephones;
98,000 radios;
63,000 TV sets in use;
broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV (1988)