Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands of the United States

organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by

Virgin Islands as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 76 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 sq km

LocationCaribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North

Populationas each edition published it

97,229 people July 1995 est. · 99,200 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-0.29% 1995 est. · -0.76% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.29 years 1995 est. · 75.29 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.41 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

12.54 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 19 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$11,000 1987 · $11,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2% in 2003

Geography

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North | Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

14 fields

Land useshare of 352 sq km

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

Area

352sq km

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

Coastline

188km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east 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

current issues:: lack of natural freshwater resources
natural hazards:: rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and 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

15 fields

Population

97,229

(July 1995 est.)note: 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%growth rate: -0.29% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

18.49Death

5.2Net migration

-16.17

Ethnic divisions

black 80%white 15%other 5%

Religions

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

Labor force

45,500

(1988)by occupation: tourism 70%

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Infant mortality rate

12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 75.29 years
male:: 73.6 years
female:: 77.2 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective:: Virgin Islander

Government

Organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by; President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

54.7%

Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (Independent) 54.7%former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

Legislature, 15 seatsone dot, one seat

Democrats 7Independents 7Republican 1

Legislature, 1 seatsone dot, one seat

Independent 1

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age;
universal;
note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch

chief of state:: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995);
Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995);
election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998);
results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (Independent) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

Senate

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (15 total) Democrats 7, Independents 7, Republican 1

US House of Representatives

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996);
results - Victor O. FRAZER (Independent) 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%;
seats - (1 total) Independent 1;
note - the Virgin Islands elects 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

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.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$11,000

(1987)

Unemployment rate

3.7%

(1992)

Budget

Revenues

$364.4 millionExpenditures

$364.4 million (1990 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 320,000 kW

Electricity production

970 millionElectricity consumption per capita

9,172 (1993)

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.