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.
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
1,910 sq km
land
346 sq km
water
1,564 sq km
Area - comparative
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
188 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Climate
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September 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 475 m
Natural resources
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use
arable land
5.71%
permanent crops
2.86%
other
91.43% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
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
Population
108,448 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696)
15-64 years
66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911)
65 years and over
11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
37.7 years
male
36.7 years
female
38.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.171% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
-8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.017 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.902 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.795 male(s)/female
total population
0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
7.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male
8.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female
6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
79.2 years
male
75.4 years
female
83.22 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective
Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
Religions
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
90-95% est.
male
NA%
female
NA% (2005 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form
Virgin Islands
former
Danish West Indies
abbreviation
USVI
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
NA
Capital
name
Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates
18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Independence
none (territory of the US)
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; island residents 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 John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet
NA
elections
under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)
election results
John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
Legislative branch
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
Judicial branch
US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
IOC, UPU
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 - overview
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.577 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
NA
GDP - real growth rate
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$14,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
1%
industry
19%
services
80% (2003 est.)
Labor force
43,980 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
1%
industry
19%
services
80% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate
6.2% (2004)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
