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U.S. Virgin Islands Information
Travel Requirements
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The new passport
requirement does NOT apply
to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning
directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens
returning directly from a U.S. territory are not
considered to have left the United States and do
not need to present a passport. U.S.
territories include the following: Guam, Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa,
Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands. |
New
Requirements for Travelers Between the United
States and the Western Hemisphere
Please
note: This initiative WILL NOT affect U.S
citizens traveling between the United States and
its territories!
Click
here
for more info.
 
***** U.S.
Citizens DO NOT need a Passport to travel to St. Croix!!! *****
Marriage Requirements
-
Click here
for detailed Wedding Information
An eight-day waiting period is
required for couples desiring to be married in the Virgin Islands. Information
can be obtained by writing to:
Clerk of the Territorial Court
P.O. Box 70
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801
(340) 774-7325
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OFFICIAL
NAME U.S. Virgin Islands
Including the Islands of: St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas
CAPITAL CITY Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, population 22,000
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Caribbean,
islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 20 N, 64
50 W
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Map references:
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St. Croix and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total:
1,910 sq km
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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twice the
size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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188 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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subtropical,
tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity,
little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season
September to November |
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Terrain:
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mostly hilly
to rugged and mountainous with little level land |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m |
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Natural resources:
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sun, sand,
sea, surf
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Land use:
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arable
land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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NA |
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Natural hazards:
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several
hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and
floods; occasional earthquakes
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Environment - current issues:
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lack of
natural freshwater resources |
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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108,605 (July
2006 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 22.4% (male 12,261/female 12,056)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 34,174/female 37,949)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 5,385/female 6,780)
(2006 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
37.1 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 38 years (2006 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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-0.12% (2006 est.)
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Birth rate:
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13.96
births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Death rate:
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6.43
deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-8.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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 (2006 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
7.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 79.05 years
male: 75.24 years
female: 83.09 years (2006 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.17 children
born/woman (2006 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Virgin Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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black 76.2%,
white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000
census) |
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Religions:
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Baptist 42%,
Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% |
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Languages:
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English
74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French
Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI |
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Dependency status:
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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 |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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name:
Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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National holiday:
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Transfer Day
(from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) |
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Constitution:
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Revised
Organic Act of 22 July 1954 |
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Legal system:
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based on US
laws
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Suffrage:
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18 years of
age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not
vote in US presidential elections |
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Executive branch:
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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 John de Jongh Jr. (as of January 2007)
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 (eligible for a second
term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be
held November 2010)
election results: John DeJONGH elected governor and
takes office in January 2007; percent of vote - John DeJONGH
57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held
November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting
representative to the US House of Representatives; election
last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008);
results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat)
reelected |
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Judicial branch:
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US District
Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit
jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges
appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic
Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or
ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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IOC, UPU |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of the US) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of the US) |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Public
Holidays |
Official Virgin Islands Public Holidays |
Top of Page
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2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Three Kings' Day.
21 Jan Martin Luther King Day.
18 Feb Presidents' Day.
20 Mar Holy Thursday.
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
26 May Memorial Day.
3 Jul Emancipation Day.
4 Jul Independence Day.
28 Jul Hurricane
Supplication Day.
1 Sep Labor Day.
13 Oct Columbus Day.
27 Oct Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day.
1 Nov D Hamilton Jackson Day/Liberty Day.
11 Nov Veterans' Day.
27 Nov US Thanksgiving Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Three Kings' Day.
19 Jan Martin Luther King Day.
16 Feb Presidents' Day.
9 Apr Holy Thursday.
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
25 May Memorial Day.
3 Jul Emancipation Day.
4 Jul Independence Day.
Jul* Hurricane Supplication Day.
7 Sep Labor Day.
12 Oct Columbus Day.
Oct* Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day.
1 Nov D Hamilton Jackson Day/Liberty Day.
11 Nov Veterans' Day.
26 Nov US Thanksgiving Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
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Economy |
Virgin Islands |
Top of Page
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$1.577 billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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NA |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$14,500 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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43,980 (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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6.2% (2004) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.2% (2003) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$NA
expenditures: $NA |
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Agriculture - products:
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fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle |
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Industries:
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tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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1.04 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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967.3 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2003)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2003)
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Oil - production:
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14,650 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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105,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2003 est.) |
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Exports:
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$4.234 billion $NA |
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Exports - commodities:
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refined petroleum products |
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Exports - partners:
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US, Puerto Rico (2004) |
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Imports:
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$4.609 billion $NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
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Imports - partners:
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US, Puerto Rico (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA |
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Currency (code):
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US dollar (USD)
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Exchange rates:
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the US dollar is used
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Fiscal year:
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1 October - 30 September |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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70,900 (2004) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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64,200 (2004) |
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Telephone system:
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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, area code - 340; 2 submarine
cable connections (Taino Carib, Americas-1); satellite earth
stations - NA |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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5 (2006) |
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Internet country code:
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.vi |
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Internet hosts:
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3,855 (2006) |
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Internet users:
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30,000 (2002) |
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Airports:
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2 (2006) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006) |
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Roadways:
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total: 1,257 km (2004)
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Ports and terminals:
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Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the US |
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Disputes - international:
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none
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The above information was last updated on 30
November, 2006 |
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