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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 9,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

about a dozen TV stations, including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available; 24 radio stations

Internet country code [time series]

.vi

Internet users [time series]

percent of population: 64% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 76,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 79,100 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2022 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products [time series]

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.496 billion (2016 est.) expenditures: $1.518 billion (2016 est.)

Economic overview [time series]

high-income, tourism-based American territorial economy; severe COVID-19 economic disruptions; major rum distillery; high public debt; sluggish reopening of large oil refinery; environmentally susceptible to hurricanes; many informal industries

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar is used

Exports [time series]

$4.549 billion (2022 est.) $4.069 billion (2021 est.) $1.62 billion (2020 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019) top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners [time series]

Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$4.672 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 68.9% (2022 est.) government consumption: 34.4% (2022 est.) investment in fixed capital: 7.5% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 15% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 97.4% (2022 est.) imports of goods and services: -108.3% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Imports [time series]

$5.058 billion (2022 est.) $4.057 billion (2021 est.) $3.184 billion (2020 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019)

Imports - partners [time series]

India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019)

Industries [time series]

tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics

Labor force [time series]

47,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt [time series]

45.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$4.9 billion (2022 est.) $4.965 billion (2021 est.) $4.789 billion (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

-1.3% (2022 est.) 3.7% (2021 est.) -1.6% (2020 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$46,500 (2022 est.) $46,900 (2021 est.) $45,100 (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Unemployment rate [time series]

12.1% (2024 est.) 12.4% (2023 est.) 13.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 25.3% (2024 est.) male: 22% (2024 est.) female: 28.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Energy

Coal [time series]

exports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity [time series]

installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 618.819 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 50.181 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources [time series]

fossil fuels: 97.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum [time series]

refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]

2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate [time series]

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

Environmental issues [time series]

lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 9.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.) forest: 58.2% (2023 est.) other: 32.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling [time series]

municipal solid waste generated annually: 146,500 tons (2024 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total : 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

twice the size of Washington, D.C.

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 [time series]

highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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]

1 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 9.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.) forest: 58.2% (2023 est.) other: 32.4% (2023 est.)

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]

pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Population distribution [time series]

overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix

Terrain [time series]

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 islands are considered second-order: Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas

Capital [time series]

name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel, after the colony was established in 1672

Citizenship [time series]

see United States

Constitution [time series]

history: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: VI etymology: in 1493, the islets, cays, and rocks around the major islands in the chain reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time was shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

Dependency status [time series]

unincorporated, organized territory of the US, with policy relations with the US federal government 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 Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025) head of government: Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019) cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president, but they can vote in the Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 8 November 2022 election results: 2022: Albert BRYAN, Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 56%, Kurt VIALET (independent) 38% 2018: Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other 0.3% expected date of next election: November 2026

Flag [time series]

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 its left, with a shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel meaning: white is a symbol of purity, and the letters stand for the Virgin Islands

Government type [time series]

unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Independence [time series]

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation [time series]

AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term subordinate courts: Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); 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 Islands

Legal system [time series]

US common law

Legislative branch [time series]

note: the Virgin Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a full floor House vote

National anthem(s) [time series]

title: "Virgin Islands March" lyrics/music: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr. history: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem _____ title: "The Star-Spangled Banner" lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH history: official anthem, as a US territory

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties [time series]

Democratic Party Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM Republican Party

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]

The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the northern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John and inflicted severe damage to structures, roads, the airport on Saint Thomas, communications, and electricity. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed over the island of Saint Croix in the southern Virgin Islands, inflicting considerable damage with heavy winds and flooding rains.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military and security forces [time series]

US Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD); US Virgin Islands National Guard (VING)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18.7% (male 9,983/female 9,547) 15-64 years: 59.8% (male 29,519/female 32,899) 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 10,018/female 12,411)

Birth rate [time series]

10.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 68 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 30.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 37.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

African-American or African descent 71.4%, White 13.3%, Indigenous 0.4%, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.1%, other 6.3%, mixed 7.5% (2020 est.) note: 18.4% self-identify as Latino

Gross reproduction rate [time series]

0.95 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.7 years (2024 est.) male: 77.6 years female: 84.1 years

Major urban areas - population [time series]

52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)

Median age [time series]

total: 43.4 years (2025 est.) male: 42.1 years female: 43.9 years

Nationality [time series]

noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

-7.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population [time series]

total: 103,792 (2025 est.) male: 49,195 female: 54,597

Population distribution [time series]

overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.58% (2025 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2025)

Heliports [time series]

4 (2025)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 1

Ports [time series]

total ports: 6 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 3 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay, Port Alucroix