|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Background: 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.
|
|
|
|
Common Name: Virgin Islands Us
|
Local Official Name: Virgin Islands US
|
|
Abbreviated Name: United States Virgin Islands
|
Official Name: Virgin Islands US
|
|
Official Script Name: Virgin Islands US
|
Local Common Name: USVI
|
|
Former Name: Danish West Indies
|
Territory of: United States
|
|
|
Head of State: President George W. BUSH
|
Government Type: 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
|
Independence: NA
|
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 1954 July 22
|
National Holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March
|
International Organization Participation: IOC, UPU
|
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
|
Dependent Areas: NA
|
Legal System: based on US laws
|
Suffrage: 18 years
|
Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: 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 Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999)
cabinet: NA
elections: under the US Consitution, 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 and takes office in January 2007; 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); results - Donna M. CHRISTENSEN (Democrat) reelected
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)
|
Party Leaders: Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
|
International Disputes: NA
|
Illicit Drugs: NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location of Virgin Islands Us: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
|
|
Continent: North America
|
Land Area Total: 1,910 sq km
|
|
Region: Northern American |
Land Area Land: 346 sq km
|
|
Capitol City: Charlotte Amalie
|
Land Area Water: 1,564 sq km
|
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
|
Latitude: 018 20 N
|
Border Boundary Land: 0 km
|
|
Longitude: 064 50 W
|
Border Boundary Coastline: 188 km
|
|
|
|
Arable Land: 5.71 %
|
Pastures: 0.00 %
|
|
Crops: 2.86 %
|
Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Highest Elevation: 474 m
|
Location: Crown Mountain
|
|
Lowest Elevation: 0 m
|
Location: Caribbean Sea
|
|
|
|
Largest City in Virgin Islands Us:
|
Largest City Population: 0
|
|
|
Threatened Species: 0
|
Environmental Issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
|
Environmental Agreements: NA
|
Irrigated Land: 0
|
Bordering Countries: NA
|
Natural Resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
|
Geographical Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
|
Comparative Area of Virgin Islands Us: twice the size of Washington, DC
|
Virgin Islands Us's Geography: 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Virgin Islands Us.
|
General Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
|
Natural Hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic Overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject 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: $1,577,000,000 USD
|
Currency: US dollar
|
|
GDP per Capita: $14,500 USD
|
Currency Code: USD
|
|
GDP Growth Rate: 2.00 %
|
One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% USD
|
|
|
Currency Exchange Rate History: the US dollar is used
|
|
|
|
GDP of Agriculture: 1.00 %
|
GDP of Industry: 19.00 %
|
|
GDP of Services: 80.00 % |
|
|
|
|
Inflation Rate: 2.20 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
|
|
Unemployment Rate: 6.20 %
|
Tourism: 0.00 visitors each year
|
|
|
|
Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
|
Budget Revenue in USD: $364,400,000 USD
|
|
Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
|
Budget Expenditures in USD: $364,400,000 USD
|
|
|
|
Electricity Production: 1,040,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
|
|
Electricity Consumption: 967,300,000 kWh
|
Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
|
Electricity Production by Source:
|
|
|
Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
|
Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
|
|
Oil Production: 14,650 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Consumption: 105,000 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
|
|
Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
|
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
|
|
|
|
External Debt: $0 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
|
|
|
Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
|
|
|
Agricultural Products: fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
|
Primary Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
|
Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
|
|
|
Import Amount in USD: $4,609,000,000 USD - crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
|
Import Partners: US, Puerto Rico
|
Export Amount in USD: $4,234,000,000 USD - refined petroleum products
|
Export Partners: US, Puerto Rico
|
|
|
GINI Index: 0.00%
|
Labor Force Number of People: 43,980
|
Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radio Broadcast Stations: 22 |
Number of People with Radios: 107,000 |
|
Television Broadcast Stations: 5 |
Number of People with Televisions: 68,000 |
|
Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 70,900 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 64,200 |
|
|
|
Internet Service Providers: 3,855 |
Internet Users: 30,000 |
|
|
|
Internet Country Code: .vi |
Newspapers: 0 |
|
Two Letter Country Code: VI |
Weights and Measures: |
|
Phone Country Code: |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
|
|
Telephone Systems: 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; 2 submarine cable connections (Taino Carib, Americas-1); satellite earth stations - NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highways: 0 km |
Railways: 0 km
|
|
Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
|
|
Airports: 2 |
Heliports: 0
|
|
|
|
Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 0 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Merchant Marines: NA
|
Ports and Harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population: 108,605 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 13.96 births per 1,000 people |
|
Population Density: 0.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 6.43 deaths per 1,000 people |
|
Population Growth: -0.12% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.17 babies born per woman |
|
|
|
Population Male 0-14: 12,261 |
Population Female 0-14: 12,056 |
|
Population Male 15-64: 34,174 |
Population Female 15-64: 37,949 |
|
Population Male 65+: 5,385 |
Population Female 65+: 6,780 |
|
|
|
Population 0-14: 22.40% |
Literacy Rate: 90.00% |
|
Population 15-64: 66.40% |
Literacy rate of Males: 0.00% |
|
Population 65+: 11.20% |
Literacy rate of Females: 0.00% |
|
|
|
Population that is Male: 53.00
% |
Population that is Female: 47.00% |
|
Life expectancy at birth in years: 79.05 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 7.86 Babies die per 1,000 births |
|
Life expectancy at birth for Males: 75.24 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 83.09 years |
|
|
|
Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
|
Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
|
|
|
Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
|
|
Disease Risk:
|
Diseases:
|
Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: -8.73
|
Nationality: VIRGIN ISLANDER
|
Ethnic Groups: black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5%
|
|
|
Primary Language: English
|
Other Languages: English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9%
|
|
|
Primary Religion: Baptist
|
Other Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Branches: defense is the responsibility of the US
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
|
Manpower Available: 0 People
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 0 People
|
Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 0 People per year
|
Expenditures: $0 USD per year
|
Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
|
Virgin Islands Us Spa and Resort Directory
|
Virgin Islands Us Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
|
Virgin Islands Us Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
|
Virgin Islands Us City Information Game Earn Real Money
|
