Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988) radios: 98,000

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

58,931 telephones; modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities local: NA intercity: NA international: NA

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 4 (1988) televisions: 63,000

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US WAKE ISLAND (territory of the US)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle

Budget [time series]

revenues: $364.4 million expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 320,000 kW production: 970 million kWh consumption per capita: 9,172 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: refined petroleum products partners: US, Puerto Rico

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

Imports [time series]

$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials partners: US, Puerto Rico

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 12% (year NA); accounts for NA% of GDP

Industries [time series]

tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA%

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1987 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$11,000 (1987)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, 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.

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.7% (1992)

Area [time series]

total area: 352 sq km land area: 349 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November

Coastline [time series]

188 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources natural hazards: rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes international agreements: NA

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 26% forest and woodland: 6% other: 47%

Location [time series]

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

sun, sand, sea, surf

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (territory of the US)

Capital [time series]

Charlotte Amalie

Constitution [time series]

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Digraph [time series]

VQ

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995); Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995); election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (Independent) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

Flag [time series]

white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

Legal system [time series]

based on US

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ECLAC (associate), IOC

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States conventional short form: Virgin Islands

National holiday [time series]

Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) Democrats 7, Independents 7, Republican 1

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Legislative branch (Territorial Court) [time series]

handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases

Government type (Type) [time series]

organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Legislative branch (US District Court) [time series]

handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases

Legislative branch (US House of Representatives) [time series]

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (Independent) 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) Independent 1; note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House of Representatives

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (territory of the US)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate [time series]

18.49 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

45,500 (1988) by occupation: tourism 70%

Languages [time series]

English (official), Spanish, Creole

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.29 years male: 73.6 years female: 77.2 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

-16.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

97,229 (July 1995 est.) note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.29% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 856 km paved: NA unpaved: NA

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km