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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
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Introduction: Virgin
Islands
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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. |
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Geography: Virgin
Islands
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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: Central
America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 1,910 sq km
country comparison to the world: 182 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: 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 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand,
sea, surf
Land use: arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)
Irrigated land: 1 sq km (2008)
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
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People: Virgin Islands
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Population: 109,666 (July 2011
est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Age structure: 0-14 years:
19.5% (male 10,886/female 10,470) 15-64 years: 65.2%
(male 33,280/female 38,210) 65 years and over: 15.3%
(male 7,626/female 9,194) (2011 est.)
Median age: total: 40.4 years
male: 39.9 years female: 40.8 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.08%
(2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Birth rate: 11.41 births/1,000
population (2011 est.) country comparison to the
world: 170
Death rate: 7.17 deaths/1,000
population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to
the world: 126
Net migration rate: -5.04
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country
comparison to the world: 192
Urbanization: urban
population: 95% of total population (2010) rate of
urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15
est.)
Major cities - population:
CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 54,000 (2009)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.058
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
(2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total:
7.24 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to
the world: 165 male: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.33 years country comparison to
the world: 38 male: 76.29 years female: 82.55 years
(2011 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8
children born/woman (2011 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.)
School life expectancy
(primary to tertiary education): NA
Education expenditures: NA
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Official US Virgin Islands Public Holidays
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2013
21 Jan Martin Luther King Day
29 Mar Good Friday
01
Apr
Easter Monday.
22 Jul Hurricane Supplication Day
14 Oct * Columbus Day
15 Nov Hurricane Thanksgiving Day
01 Nov D Hamilton Jackson Day/Liberty Day
28 Nov US Thanksgiving Day
30 Nov Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Second Christmas Day
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Government: Virgin
Islands
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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: US common law
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 held on 2 November 2010
(next to be held in November 2014) election results:
John DeJONGH reelected governor; percent of vote -
John DeJONGH 56.3%, Kenneth MAPP 43.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve
two-year terms) elections: last held on 2 November
2010 (next to be held in November 2012) 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 2 November 2010 (next to be held
on November 2012)
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: Democratic Party; Independent Citizens' Movement
or ICM; Republican Party
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; white is a symbol of purity, the letters
stand for the Virgin Islands
National anthem: name: "Virgin Islands March"
lyrics/music: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.
note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a
territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled
Banner" is official (see United States)
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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 rum distilling, 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. 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: 193
GDP (official exchange rate): $NA
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
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: 190
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: 65
Agriculture - products: fruit,
vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries: tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction,
pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 776.4
million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - consumption: 722 million
kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2008
est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2008
est.)
Oil - consumption: 88,820 bbl/day
(2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Oil - imports: 480,600 bbl/day (2007
est.) country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1
January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2008
est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m
(2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2008
est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2008
est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m
(1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Exports: $4.234 billion (2001) country
comparison to the world: 114
Exports - commodities: refined
petroleum products
Imports: $4.609 billion (2001) country
comparison to the world: 119
Imports - commodities: crude oil,
foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Debt - external: $NA
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
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Communications: Virgin
Islands
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Telephones - main lines in use: 75,000
(2009) country comparison to the world:
151
Telephones - mobile cellular: 80,300
(2005) country comparison to the world:
190
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
Broadcast media: about a dozen
television broadcast stations including
1 public TV station; multi-channel cable
and satellite TV services are available;
24 radio stations broadcasting (2009)
Internet country code: .vi
Internet hosts: 8,933 (2010) country
comparison to the world: 129
Internet users: 30,000 (2009) country
comparison to the world: 180
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Transportation: Virgin
Islands
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Airports:
2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 208
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways: total: 1,260 km
(2008) country comparison to the world: 179
Ports and terminals: Charlotte
Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted,
Limetree Bay
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Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,542 females age 16-49: 20,946
(2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily
significant age annually: male: 744 female: 788
(2010 est.)
Military - note: defense is
the responsibility of the US
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Transnational Issues: Virgin
Islands
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Disputes - international:
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none
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This information was last updated
January, 2013.
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