Virgin Islands

United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies

Virgin Islands as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 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

Position18 20 N, 64 50 W

Area352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

122,211 people July 2001 est. · 99,200 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.06% 2001 est. · -0.76% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.27 years 2001 est. · 75.29 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.25 children per woman 2001 est. · 2.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

9.43 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 19 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$15,000 2000 est. · $11,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2% in 2003

Introduction

1 field

Background

During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

Geography

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

17 fields

Coastline

188km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

18 20 N, 64 50 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Natural resources

sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use

arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 6% other: 47% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

several hurricanes in recent years;
frequent and severe droughts and floods;
occasional earthquakes

Environment - current issues

lack of natural freshwater resources

Geography - 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

18 fields

Population

122,211

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 1.06% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

15.9Death

5.47Net migration

0.12

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.27% (male 17,121; female 16,204) 15-64 years: 63.92% (male 35,391; female 42,727) 65 years and over: 8.81% (male 4,638; female 6,130) (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

9.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.27 years male: 74.38 years female: 82.39 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.25 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups

black 80%, white 15%, other 5% 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%

Languages

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Literacy

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

Government

NA; President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

58.9%

Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%former Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%

Country name

conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies

Dependency status

organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type

Capital

Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order;
Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas

National holiday

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)

Constitution

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system

based on US laws

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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001);
Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms;
governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms;
election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002) election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor;
percent of vote - Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, former Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%

Legislative branch

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - Democratic Party 6, ICM 2, independents 7 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives;
election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002);
results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) elected

Judicial branch

US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON];
Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHON];
Republican Party [Gary SCROUVE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US)

Flag description

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.

32 fields

Unemployment rate

4.9%

(March 1999)

Labor force

47,443

(1990 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

1.02 billion (1999)Electricity consumption

948.6 million (1999)

Economy - overview

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with 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. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, and protect the environment.