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Communications

Military - note (Defense note) [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)

Radios [time series]

105,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

60,000 (1990 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (1988 est.)

Televisions [time series]

65,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, 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]

$NA

Economic 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.

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

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

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

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

$12,500 (1987 est.)

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

NA%

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 [time series]

12% (year NA)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA%

Labor force [time series]

47,443 (1990 est.) by occupation: agriculture, industry, services, other (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.7% (1992)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 20 N, 64 50 W

Geography - note (Geographic 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

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (territory of the US)

Capital [time series]

Charlotte Amalie

Constitution [time series]

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Data code [time series]

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

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President (of the United States) 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) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995) were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 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 a yellow 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

International organization participation [time series]

ECLAC (associate), IOC

Judicial branch [time series]

US District Court, handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases, judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases, judges appointed by the governor

Legal system [time series]

based on US laws

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies

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

Government type (Type of government) [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 House of Representatives) [time series]

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (ICM) 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) ICM 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)

People

Age structure [time series]

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

Birth rate [time series]

17.57 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 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 (1996 est.)

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 (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

Nationality [time series]

noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

-12.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

97,120 (July 1996 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]

-0.06% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.29 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Railways [time series]

0 km