U.S. Virgin Islands, USVI Information

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

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

Public Holidays: Virgin Islands

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)

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

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

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 744 female: 788 (2010 est.)

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US