Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands Population: 109,840
BackgroundDuring 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 rly 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
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GeographyImportant loion along the Anegada Passage - a shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbn.Loion:Caribbn, islands between the Caribbn S and the North Atlantic Ocn, st of Puerto RicoGeographic coordinates:18 20 N, 64 50 WAr:total: 1,910 sq km
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 sq kmSize comparison: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries:0 kmCoastline:188 kmMaritime claims:territorial s: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nmClimate:subtropical, tempered by sterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little ssonal temperature variation; rainy sson September to NovemberTerrain:mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level landElevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbn S 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 475 mNatural resources:sun, sand, s, surfLand use:arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43% (2005)Irrigated land:NANatural hazards:several hurricanes in recent yrs; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional rthquakesCurrent Environment Issues:lack of natural freshwater resources
PeoplePopulation:109,840 (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 21% (male 11,698/female 11,390)
15-64 yrs: 66.2% (male 34,035/female 38,670)
65 yrs and over: 12.8% (male 6,312/female 7,735) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 38.5 yrs
male: 38 yrs
female: 39 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:0.002% (2008 est.)Birth rate:12.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:6.55 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 7.72 dths/1,000 live births
male: 8.43 dths/1,000 live births
female: 6.96 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.92 yrs
male: 75.9 yrs
female: 82.11 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NAHIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NAHIV/AIDS - dths:NANationality:noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Virgin IslanderEthnic groups:black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)Religions:Baptist 42%, Roman holic 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 rd and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVIGovernment type:NACapital:name: Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahd 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 ThomasIndependence:none (territory of the US)National holiday:Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)Constitution:Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954Legal system:based on US lawsSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential electionsExecutive branch:chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
hd 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-yr 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 sts; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-yr terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; sts 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-yr terms)Political parties and lders:Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]Political pressure groups and lders:NAInternational organization participation:IOC, UPU, WFTUDiplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)
EconomyTourism 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, rum distilling, 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):$1.577 billion (2004 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$NAGDP - rl 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:28.9% (2002)Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.2% (2003)Budget:revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NAAgriculture - products:
Industries:tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronicsIndustrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:960 million kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - consumption:892.8 million kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Oil - production:17,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - consumption:91,680 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - exports:398,500 bbl/day (2005)Oil - imports:492,300 bbl/day (2005)Oil - proved reserves:NANatural gas - production:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)Exports:$4.234 billion (2001)Exports - commodities:refined petroleum productsImports:$4.609 billion (2001)Imports - commodities:crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materialsDebt - external:$NACurrency ():US dollar (USD)Exchange rates:the US dollar is usedFiscal yr:1 October - 30 September
CommuniionsTele in use:71,700 (2005)Cellular in use:80,300 (2005)Telephone system:eral assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: full range of services available
international: country - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbn, Central and South America; satellite rth stations - NARadio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)Television broadcast stations:5 (2006)Internet country :.viInternet hosts:4,610 (2008)Internet users:30,000 (2007)
TransportationAirports:2 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)Roadways:total: 1,257 km (2007)Ports and terminals:Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay

Defense is the responsibility of the US