- Virgin Islands
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Introduction ::Virgin IslandsBackground:During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. 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.Geography ::Virgin IslandsLocation:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto RicoGeographic coordinates:18 20 N, 64 50 WArea:total: 1,910 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 182land: 346 sq kmwater: 1,564 sq kmArea - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DCLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:188 kmMaritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmClimate:subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to NovemberTerrain:mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level landElevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Crown Mountain 474 mNatural resources:sun, sand, sea, surfLand use:arable land: 2.86%permanent crops: 2.86%other: 94.29% (2011)Irrigated land:1 sq km (2011)Natural hazards:several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakesEnvironment - current issues:lack of natural freshwater resourcesGeography - 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 CaribbeanPeople and Society ::Virgin IslandsNationality: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)Languages:English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)Religions:Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%Population:104,737 (July 2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 193Age structure: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.)Dependency ratios:total dependency ratio: 58.1 %youth dependency ratio: 32.7 %elderly dependency ratio: 25.3 %potential support ratio: 3.9 (2013)Median age:total: 43.5 yearsmale: 43.7 yearsfemale: 43.3 years (2013 est.)Population growth rate:-0.53% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 225Birth rate:10.69 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 182Death rate:7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 104Net migration rate:-8.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 204Urbanization:urban population: 95% of total population (2010)rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major urban areas - population:CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 54,000 (2009)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-24 years: 0.83 male(s)/female25-54 years: 0.84 male(s)/female55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2013 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 163male: 7.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.61 yearscountry comparison to the world: 40male: 76.57 yearsfemale: 82.83 years (2013 est.)Total fertility rate:1.77 children born/woman (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 160Contraceptive prevalence rate:78.4%note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2002)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NAHIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NAHIV/AIDS - deaths:NAEducation expenditures:NALiteracy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90-95% est.male: NAfemale: NA (2005 est.)Government ::Virgin IslandsCountry name:conventional long form: United States Virgin Islandsconventional short form: Virgin Islandsformer: Danish West Indiesabbreviation: USVIDependency 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 InteriorGovernment type:NACapital:name: Charlotte Amaliegeographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 Wtime 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 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:US common lawSuffrage:18 years of age; universal; note - 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)head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)cabinet: NA(For more information visit the World Leaders website )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%Legislative branch: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 3note: 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)Judicial branch: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 2007judge 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 termsubordinate 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 IslandsPolitical parties and leaders:Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]Political pressure groups and leaders:NAInternational organization participation:IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)Flag description: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 IslandsNational anthem: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)Economy ::Virgin IslandsEconomy - overview: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.GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.577 billion (2004 est.)country comparison to the world: 196GDP (official exchange rate):$NAGDP - real growth rate:2% (2002 est.)country comparison to the world: 133GDP - per capita (PPP):$14,500 (2004 est.)country comparison to the world: 92GDP - composition, by sector of origin:agriculture: 1%industry: 19%services: 80% (2003 est.)Agriculture - products:fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattleIndustries:tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronicsIndustrial production growth rate:NA%Labor force:49,820 (2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 192Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 1%industry: 19%services: 80% (2003 est.)Unemployment rate:6.2% (2004)country comparison to the world: 65Population below poverty line:28.9% (2002)Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%Budget:revenues: $837 millionexpenditures: $837 million (FY08/09)Fiscal year:1 October - 30 SeptemberInflation rate (consumer prices):2.2% (2003)country comparison to the world: 49Exports:$4.234 billion (2001)country comparison to the world: 118Exports - commodities:refined petroleum productsImports:$4.609 billion (2001)country comparison to the world: 131Imports - commodities:crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materialsDebt - external:$NAExchange rates:the US dollar is usedEnergy ::Virgin IslandsElectricity - production:872 million kWh (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 150Electricity - consumption:811 million kWh (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 154Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 145Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 147Electricity - installed generating capacity:323,000 kW (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 147Electricity - from fossil fuels:100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 43Electricity - from nuclear fuels:0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 200Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 205Electricity - from other renewable sources:0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 201Crude oil - production:0 bbl/day (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 202Crude oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 202Crude oil - imports:425,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 19Crude oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 201Refined petroleum products - production:493,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 32Refined petroleum products - consumption:106,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 77Refined petroleum products - exports:390,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 20Refined petroleum products - imports:5,180 bbl/day (2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 154Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 205Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 205Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 203Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 145Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 203Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:11.95 million Mt (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 96Communications ::Virgin IslandsTelephones - main lines in use:75,800 (2010)country comparison to the world: 154Telephones - mobile cellular:80,300 (2005)country comparison to the world: 196Telephone system:general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relaydomestic: full range of services availableinternational: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA (2010)Broadcast media:about a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations (2009)Internet country code:.viInternet hosts:4,790 (2012)country comparison to the world: 146Internet users:30,000 (2009)country comparison to the world: 181Transportation ::Virgin IslandsAirports:2 (2013)country comparison to the world: 207Airports - with paved runways:total: 2over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)Roadways:total: 1,260 km (2008)country comparison to the world: 180Ports and terminals:Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree BayMilitary ::Virgin IslandsManpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 17,542females age 16-49: 20,946 (2010 est.)Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:male: 744female: 788 (2010 est.)Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the USTransnational Issues ::Virgin IslandsDisputes - international:none"
The World Factbook. 2014.