Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands of the United States
organized, unincorporated territory of the US
Virgin Islands as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 81 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the | North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
15 fieldsLand useshare of 352 sq km
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Climate
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
- lowest point:
- Caribbean Sea 0 m
- highest point:
- Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment
- current issues:
- lack of natural freshwater resources
- natural hazards:
- rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes
- international agreements:
- NA
Geographic 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 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- NA male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- NA male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- NA male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- NA male(s)/female
- all ages:
- NA male(s)/female
Government
Organized, unincorporated territory of the US; President (of the United States) William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995) were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 15 seatsone dot, one seat
Legislature, 1 seatsone dot, one seat
Name of country
- conventional long form:
- Virgin Islands of the United States
- conventional short form:
- Virgin Islands
- former:
- Danish West Indies
Type of government
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President (of the United States) 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) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995) were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage;
- election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998);
- results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 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 (ICM) 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%;
- seats - (1 total) ICM 1;
- note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House of Representatives
Judicial branch
- US District Court, handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases, judges are appointed by the president;
- Territorial Court, handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases, judges appointed by the governor
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 a yellow 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.
20 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 320,000 kW
Economic 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. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.
Industries
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Imports
$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
- commodities:
- crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
- partners:
- US, Puerto Rico
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all
Networkskm
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
- international:
- submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Virgin Islands.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/virgin-islands/1996.