Virgin Islands

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

• 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

noun:

Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)

adjective:

Virgin Islander

total:

43 years (2024 est.)

male:

42.1 years

female:

43.9 years

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.81 male(s)/female

total population:

0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

80.7 years (2024 est.)

male:

77.6 years

female:

84.1 years

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

• lack of natural freshwater resources;
• protection of coral reefs;
• solid waste management;
• coastal development;
• increased boating and overfishing

urban population:

96.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

-0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Virgin Islands

former:

Danish West Indies

abbreviation:

VI

etymology:

the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

• unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government;
• republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

name:

Charlotte Amalie

geographic coordinates:

18 21 N, 64 56 W

time difference:

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

originally called Taphus in Danish - meaning "tap house" or "beer house" because of its many beer halls - the town received a more dignified name in 1691 when it was named Charlotte Amalie in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V’s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714)

• none (territory of the US);
• there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 islands at the second order;
• Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas

history:

22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory

amendments:

amended several times, last in 2012

• 18 years of age;
• universal;
• note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

chief of state:

President Joseph R. BIDEN, Jr. (since 20 January 2021)

head of government:

Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019)

cabinet:

Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate

elections/appointments:

• president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state;
• president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term);
• under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president;
• however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections;
• governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026)

election results:

2022: Albert BRYAN, Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 56%, Kurt VIALET (independent) 38%;

• 2018: Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round;
• percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%;
• percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other 0.3%

highest court(s):

• Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices);
• note - court established by the US Congress in 2004 and assumed appellate jurisdiction in 2007

judge selection and term of office:

• justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate;
• justices serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior;
• chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term

subordinate courts:

• Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004);
• US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district);
• District Court of the Virgin Islands

• Democratic Party
• Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM
• Republican Party

• white field 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 its right talon and three arrows in the left with a superimposed shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel;
• white is a symbol of purity, the letters stand for the Virgin Islands

name:

"Virgin Islands March"

lyrics/music:

multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.

note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

• high-income, tourism-based American territorial economy;
• severe COVID-19 economic disruptions;
• major rum distillery;
• high public debt;
• sluggish reopening of large oil refinery;
• environmentally susceptible to hurricanes;
• many informal industries

total:

25.6% (2023 est.)

male:

23.1% (2023 est.)

female:

32.7% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

general assessment:

• modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay;
• good interisland and international connections;
• broadband access;
• expansion of FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets;
• LTE launches;
• regulatory development and expansion in several markets point to investment and focus on data (2020)

domestic:

fixed-line 76 per 100 persons, with mobile-cellular 80 per 100 (2021)

international:

• country code - 1-340;
• landing points for the BSCS, St Thomas-ST Croix System, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas II, GCN, MAC, PAN-AM and SAC submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America;
• satellite earth stations - NA (2020)

• about a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station;
• multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available;
• 24 radio stations

total ports:

6 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

3

very small:

3

ports with oil terminals:

3

key ports:

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay, Port Alucroix