|
|
U.S. Virgin Islands, USVI Information
 
***** U.S. Citizens
DO NOT need a Passport to travel to St. Croix, USVI!!! *****
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
Introduction ::Virgin
Islands
|
Background:
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. |
|
|
|
Geography ::Virgin
Islands
|
|
Location:
|
|
|
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
|
|
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
|
|
18 20 N, 64 50 W
|
|
|
Map references:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Area:
|
|
|
total:
1,910 sq km
country comparison to the world:
181
land:
346 sq km
water:
1,564 sq km
|
|
|
Area - comparative:
|
|
|
twice the size of Washington, DC
|
|
|
Land boundaries:
|
|
|
0 km
|
|
|
Coastline:
|
|
|
188 km
|
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
|
|
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
|
|
|
Climate:
|
|
|
Current
Weather
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds,
relatively low humidity, little seasonal
temperature variation; rainy season September to
November
|
|
|
Terrain:
|
|
|
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little
level land
|
|
|
Elevation extremes:
|
|
|
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Crown Mountain 475 m
|
|
|
Natural resources:
|
|
|
sun, sand, sea, surf
|
|
|
Land use:
|
|
|
arable land:
5.71%
permanent crops:
2.86%
other:
91.43% (2005)
|
|
|
Irrigated land:
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
Natural hazards:
|
|
|
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
|
|
|
Environment - current issues:
|
|
|
lack of natural freshwater resources
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
People
::Virgin Islands
|
|
Population:
|
|
|
109,775 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189 |
|
|
Age structure:
|
|
|
0-14 years:
19.9% (male 11,106/female 10,721)
15-64 years:
65.6% (male 33,600/female 38,438)
65 years and over:
14.5% (male 7,198/female 8,712) (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Median age:
|
|
|
total:
39.8 years
male:
39.2 years
female:
40.2 years (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Population growth rate:
|
|
|
-0.061% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
207 |
|
|
Birth rate:
|
|
|
11.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
169 |
|
|
Death rate:
|
|
|
6.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
133 |
|
|
Net migration rate:
|
|
|
-5.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
161 |
|
|
Urbanization:
|
|
|
urban population:
95% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
|
|
|
Sex ratio:
|
|
|
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.83 male(s)/female
total population:
0.9 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
|
|
total:
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world:
168
male:
8.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
6.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
|
|
total population:
79.19 years
country comparison to the world:
35
male:
76.14 years
female:
82.41 years (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Total fertility rate:
|
|
|
1.81 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
153 |
|
|
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.)
|
|
|
Education expenditures:
|
|
|
NA
|
|
Public Holidays :: Virgin
Islands |
Official US Virgin Islands Public Holidays
|
|
2010
1 Jan New
Year's Day.
6 Jan Three
Kings' Day.
18 Jan Martin
Luther King Day.
15 Feb Presidents' Day.
8 Apr Holy Thursday.
2 Apr Good
Friday.
5 Apr Easter
Monday.
31 May Memorial Day.
3 Jul
Emancipation Day.
4 Jul Independence Day.
28 Jul* Hurricane Supplication Day.
6 Sep Labor
Day.
11 Oct Columbus Day.
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.
2011
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Three Kings' Day.
19 Jan Martin Luther King
Day.
16 Feb
Presidents' Day.
21 Apr
Holy Thursday.
22 Apr
Good Friday.
25 Apr
Easter Monday.
25 May
Memorial Day.
3 Jul
Emancipation Day. (observed July 4)
4 Jul Independence Day.
25 Jul Hurricane
Supplication Day. (fourth Monday in July)
5 Sept Labor Day.
10 Oct Columbus Day.
1 Nov D Hamilton Jackson
Day/Liberty Day.
11 Nov
Veterans' Day.
24 Nov
Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
* Date to be confirmed |
|
|
|
|
|
Government ::Virgin
Islands
|
|
Country name:
|
|
|
conventional long form:
United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form:
Virgin Islands
former:
Danish West Indies
abbreviation:
USVI
|
|
|
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:
|
|
|
name:
Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates:
18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference:
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
Independence:
|
|
|
none (territory of the US)
|
|
|
National holiday:
|
|
|
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 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 Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January
2009)
head of government:
Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet:
NA
(For more
information visit the
World Leaders website )
elections:
under the US Constitution, residents of
unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president
and vice president; however, they may vote in the
Democratic and Republican presidential primary
elections; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for
four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last heldon 7 and 21 November 2006 (next
to be held in November 2010)
election results:
John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote -
John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
|
|
|
Legislative branch:
|
|
|
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections:
last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in
November 2010)
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 4 November 2008 (next to be
held on 2 November 2010)
|
|
|
Judicial branch:
|
|
|
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)
|
|
|
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, WFTU
|
|
|
Diplomatic representation in
the US:
|
|
|
none (territory of the US)
|
|
|
Diplomatic representation
from the US:
|
|
|
none (territory of the US)
|
|
|
Flag 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 the left with a superimposed shield of seven
red and six white vertical stripes below a blue
panel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economy - overview:
|
|
|
Tourism is the primary economic activity,
accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The
islands hosted 2.4 million visitors in 2008. The
manufacturing sector consists of petroleum
refining, rum distilling, textiles, electronics,
pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the
world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint
Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most
food being imported. International business and
financial services are small but growing
components of the economy. The islands are
vulnerable 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 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world:
190 |
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
|
|
$NA
|
|
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
|
|
2% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world:
79 |
|
|
GDP - per capita (PPP):
|
|
|
$14,500 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world:
80 |
|
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
|
|
agriculture:
1%
industry:
19%
services:
80% (2003 est.)
|
|
|
Labor force:
|
|
|
49,820 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world:
189 |
|
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
|
|
agriculture:
1%
industry:
19%
services:
80% (2003 est.)
|
|
|
Unemployment rate:
|
|
|
6.2% (2004)
country comparison to the world:
59 |
|
|
Population below poverty
line:
|
|
|
28.9% (2002)
|
|
|
Household income or
consumption by percentage share:
|
|
|
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
|
|
|
Budget:
|
|
|
revenues:
$837 million
expenditures:
$837 million (FY08/09)
|
|
|
Inflation rate (consumer
prices):
|
|
|
2.2% (2003)
country comparison to the world:
76 |
|
|
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:
|
|
|
776.4 million kWh (2007 est.) Oil fired power
plant
country comparison to the world:
152 |
|
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
|
|
722 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world:
151 |
|
|
Electricity - exports:
|
|
|
0 kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
|
Electricity - imports:
|
|
|
0 kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
|
Oil - production:
|
|
|
17,620 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world:
77 |
|
|
Oil - consumption:
|
|
|
72,860 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world:
89 |
|
|
Oil - exports:
|
|
|
388,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world:
33 |
|
|
Oil - imports:
|
|
|
480,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world:
26 |
|
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
|
|
0 bbl
country comparison to the world:
117 |
|
|
Natural gas - production:
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world:
116 |
|
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world:
124 |
|
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world:
91 |
|
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world:
118 |
|
|
Natural gas - proved
reserves:
|
|
|
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world:
122 |
|
|
Exports:
|
|
|
$4.234 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world:
107 |
|
|
Exports - commodities:
|
|
|
refined petroleum products
|
|
|
Imports:
|
|
|
$4.609 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world:
113 |
|
|
Imports - commodities:
|
|
|
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building
materials
|
|
|
Debt - external:
|
|
|
$NA
|
|
|
Exchange rates:
|
|
|
the US dollar is used
|
|
|
|
|
|
Communications ::Virgin
Islands
|
|
Telephones - main lines in
use:
|
|
|
74,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 153 |
|
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
|
|
80,300 (2005)
country comparison to the world:
186 |
|
|
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; submarine cable connections
to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America;
satellite earth stations - NA
|
|
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
|
|
AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)
|
|
|
Television broadcast
stations:
|
|
|
5 (2006)
|
|
|
Internet country code:
|
|
|
.vi
|
|
|
Internet hosts:
|
|
|
8,726 (2009)
country comparison to the world:
121 |
|
|
Internet users:
|
|
|
30,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world:
180 |
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation ::Virgin
Islands
|
|
|
|
|
2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 202 |
|
|
Airports - with paved
runways:
|
|
|
total:
2
over 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2009)
|
|
|
Roadways:
|
|
|
total:
1,257 km (2007)
country comparison to the world:
179 |
|
|
Ports and terminals:
|
|
|
Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay
|
|
|
|
|
|
Military ::Virgin
Islands
|
|
Manpower fit for military
service:
|
|
|
males age 16-49:
17,675
females age 16-49:
21,070 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily
significant age annually:
|
|
|
male:
805
female:
849 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Military - note:
|
|
|
defense is the responsibility of the US
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transnational Issues ::Virgin
Islands
|
|
Disputes - international:
|
|
|
none
|
|
This information was last updated May 27, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
