CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Virgin Islands

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CIA WFB Seal.png Virgin Islands Flag of the United States Virgin Islands (WFB 2004).gif
BritishVirginIsland map.png
Introduction Virgin Islands
Geography Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 352 sq km
water: 3 sq km
land: 349 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use: arable land: 11.76%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 85.29% (2001)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
People Virgin Islands
Population: 108,775 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.8% (male 13,116; female 12,770)
15-64 years: 66% (male 33,944; female 37,870)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 4,855; female 6,220) (2004 est.)
Median age: total: 35.9 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 36.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.05% (2004 est.)
Birth rate: 14.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.75 years
male: 74.91 years
female: 82.82 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 78%, white 10%, other 12%
note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy: definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Government Virgin Islands
Country name: conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
Government type: NA
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
National holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system: based on US laws
election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999)
cabinet: NA
elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004)
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Judicial branch: US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU
Economy Virgin Islands
Economy - 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 a small but growing component 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: purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2003)
Labor force: 48,900 (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.3% (2003 est.)
Budget: revenues: $560
expenditures: NA (2003)
Agriculture - products: fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Electricity - production: 1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption: 957.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2001)
Oil - consumption: 66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: NA (2001)
Oil - imports: NA (2001)
Exports: NA
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products
Exports - partners: US, Puerto Rico
Imports: NA
Imports - partners: US, Puerto Rico
Debt - external: NA
Economic aid - recipient: NA
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use: 69,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 41,000 (2002)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Radios: 107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (2002)
Televisions: 68,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .vi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 50 (2000)
Internet users: 30,000 (2002)
Transportation Virgin Islands
Highways: total: 856 km
paved: NA km
note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
unpaved: NA km
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Virgin Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
This page was last updated on 1 January 2003
