Page last updated on January 28, 2014
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into English and Dutch territorial units. Sugarcane, produced by African 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.
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 1,910 sq km
country comparison to the world: 182
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 sq km
twice the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 94.29% (2011)
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
lack of natural freshwater resources
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
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%
104,737 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 9,669/female 9,407)
15-24 years: 10.6% (male 5,075/female 6,063)
25-54 years: 39.3% (male 18,698/female 22,444)
55-64 years: 14.1% (male 7,036/female 7,750)
65 years and over: 17.8% (male 8,431/female 10,164) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 58.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 32.7 %
elderly dependency ratio: 25.3 %
potential support ratio: 3.9 (2013)
total: 43.5 years
male: 43.7 years
female: 43.3 years (2013 est.)
-0.53% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
10.69 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
-8.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
urban population: 95% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 54,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 163
male: 7.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 79.61 years
country comparison to the world: 40
male: 76.57 years
female: 82.83 years (2013 est.)
1.77 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
78.4%
note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA
female: NA (2005 est.)
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI
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
name: Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
none (territory of the US)
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this territory of the US (2013)
18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
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; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)
election results: John DeJONGH reelected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 56.3%, Kenneth MAPP 43.6%
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2012 (next to be held on November 2014)
highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by 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 initially serve renewable 10-year terms; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term
subordinate courts: Superior Court (renamed in 2004 vice the Territorial Court); 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 [Arturo WATLINGTON]
none (territory of the US)
none (territory of the US)
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 United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)
Tourism, trade, and other services are the primary economic activities, accounting for roughly 57% of GDP and about half of total civilian employment in 2010. Goods-producing industries accounted for 23% of GDP in 2010 and government represented 20%. The islands hosted nearly 2.74 million visitors - 2.2 million cruise ship and 536,000 air passengers - in 2011. The manufacturing sector consists of rum distilling, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agriculture sector is small, with most food being imported. The islands are vulnerable to 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.
$1.577 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
2% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$14,500 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics
49,820 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
6.2% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 67
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $837 million
expenditures: $837 million (FY08/09)
2.2% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 49
$4.234 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 117
refined petroleum products
$4.609 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 132
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
794 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
767.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
323,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
14,880 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
402,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 201
423,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
106,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
316,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
5,732 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 204
18.59 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
75,800 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 152
80,300 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 197
general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: full range of services available
international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA (2010)
about a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations (2009)
4,790 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 146
30,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 207
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 1,260 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
major seaport(s): Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay
males age 16-49: 17,542
females age 16-49: 20,946 (2010 est.)
male: 744
female: 788 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
