Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season Septejmber to November

Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf

Natural hazards:
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Geography - note:
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


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

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

Ethnic groups:
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)
Government Virgin Islands Top of Page
Country name:
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
Dependency status:
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
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
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
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999)
cabinet: NA
elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; 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%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held 7 November 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 4, independent 1
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 parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
IOC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
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
Economy Virgin Islands Top of Page
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 small but growing components 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):
$1.577 billion (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
43,980 (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2003)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.04 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - consumption:
967.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
14,650 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
105,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico (2004)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico (2004)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Virgin Islands Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
70,900 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
41,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (2006)
Internet country code:
.vi
Internet hosts:
3,818 (2005)
Internet users:
30,000 (2002)
Transportation Virgin Islands Top of Page
Airports:
2 (2005)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2005)
Roadways:
total: 1,257 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:
Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay
Military Virgin Islands Top of Page
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Virgin Islands Top of Page
Disputes - international:
none