Virgin Islands
organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the
Virgin Islands as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and | southeast of Puerto Rico
25 fieldstotal area
352 sq km
land area
349 sq km
comparative area
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
contiguous zone
24 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
Climate
subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
arable land
15%
permanent crops
6%
meadows and pastures
26%
forest and woodland
6%
other
47%
current issues
lack of natural freshwater resources
natural hazards
rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes
international agreements
NA
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
20 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
75.29 years
male
73.6 years
female
77.2 years (1994 est.)
noun
Virgin Islander(s)
adjective
Virgin Islander
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%
total population
NA%
male
NA%
female
NA%
by occupation
tourism 70%
Government
Organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the
22 fieldsconventional 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
Suffrage
- 18 years of age;
- universal;
- note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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);
- election 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
- elections 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
- elections 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
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
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON;
- Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN;
- Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
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.
25 fieldsOverview
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.
revenues
$364.4 million
expenditures
$364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
commodities
refined petroleum products
partners
US, Puerto Rico
commodities
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
partners
US, Puerto Rico
capacity
380,000 kW
production
565 million kWh
consumption per capita
5,710 kWh (1992)
Industries
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
recipient
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42 million
Communications
12 fieldstotal
856 km
paved
NA
unpaved
NA
Ports
- Saint Croix - Christiansted, Frederiksted;
- Saint Thomas - Long Bay, Crown Bay, Red Hook;
- Saint John - Cruz Bay
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)
Defense Forces
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Virgin Islands.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/virgin-islands/1994.