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US VIRGIN ISLANDS
OFFICIAL NAME
U.S. Virgin Islands
Including the Islands of: St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas
CAPITAL CITY
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, population 22,000
Geography
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 area:
352 sq km
land area:
349 sq km
comparative area:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
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
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
26%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
47%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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
Population:
97,120 (July 1996 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%
Age structure:
0-14 years:
NA
15-64 years:
NA
65 years and over:
NA
Population growth rate:
-0.06% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
17.57 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
-12.94 migrant(s)/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
Infant mortality rate:
12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:75.29 years
male:
73.6 years
female:
77.2 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.29 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Virgin Islander(s)
adjective:
Virgin Islander
Ethnic divisions:
black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
NA
Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form:
Virgin Islands
former:
Danish West Indies
Data code:
VQ
Type of government:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
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 (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%
Legislative branch:
unicameral
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
International organization participation:
ECLAC (associate), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
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 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
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1987 est.)
GDP real growth rate:
NA%
GDP per capita:
$12,500 (1987 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
47,443 (1990 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture, industry, services, other (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$364.4 million
expenditures:
$364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
12% (year NA)
Electricity:
capacity:
320,000 kW
production:
970 million kWh
consumption per capita:
9,172 kWh (1993)
Agriculture:
truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Exports:
$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
refined petroleum products
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
Imports:
$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
External debt:
$NA
Economic aid:
$NA
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Transportation
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total:
856 km
paved:
NA km
unpaved:
NA km
Ports:
Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
total:
2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m:
2
note:
international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1995 est.)
Communications
Telephones:
60,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic:
modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international:
submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
Radios:
105,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1988 est.)
Televisions:
65,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
Defense note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
RETURN TO:
North America Page
Caribbean Facts/Figures/Flags
St. Croix Map
St. John Map
St. Thomas Map
