ARCHIVE // VI // 2005

Virgin Islands

2005 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.vi
Internet users [time series]
30,000 (2002)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 6, FM 17, shortwave 0 (2004)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
69,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
41,000 (2002)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
16 (2004)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Budget [time series]
revenues: $560 expenditures: NA (2003)
Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]
US dollar (USD)
Debt - external [time series]
NA
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
962.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production [time series]
1.035 billion kWh (2002)
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum products
Exports - partners [time series]
US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$2.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
2% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Imports [time series]
NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners [time series]
US, Puerto Rico
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.2% (2003)
Labor force [time series]
48,900 (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption [time series]
66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports [time series]
NA
Oil - imports [time series]
NA
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
9.3% (2003 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
twice the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Coastline [time series]
188 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
lack of natural freshwater resources
Geographic coordinates [time series]
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Geography - 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
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 11.76% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 85.3% (2001)
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]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources [time series]
sun, sand, sea, surf
Terrain [time series]
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
Capital [time series]
Charlotte Amalie
Constitution [time series]
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies
Dependency status [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of the US)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) cabinet: NA 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 November 2006) election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
Flag (Flag description) [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
Government type [time series]
NA
International organization participation [time series]
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Legal system [time series]
based on US laws
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3 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
National holiday [time series]
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 23.1% (male 12,676/female 12,421) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,069/female 37,918) 65 years and over: 10.7% (male 5,125/female 6,499) (2005 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
14.2 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 8.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Languages [time series]
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 78.91 years male: 75.08 years female: 82.96 years (2005 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Median age [time series]
total: 36.52 years male: 35.6 years female: 37.33 years (2005 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander
Net migration rate [time series]
-8.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Population [time series]
108,708 (July 2005 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.07% (2005 est.)
Religions [time series]
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 1,257 km paved: 1,192 km unpaved: 65 km note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2003)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay