Country Profile US Virgin Islands

 


  • Capital: Charlotte Amalie
  • Population: 109,825 (July 2009 est.)
  • Currency: US dollar is used  
  • Language:  English
  • Time zone:  UTC-4
  • Government: 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
  • Chief of State: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009)
  • Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN
  • GDP real growth rate :  2% (2002 est.)
  • Exports: $4.234 billion (2001)
  • Imports: $4.609 billion f.o.b. (2001)
  • Dialing Country code: +1+340
  • Voltage: 110V


Detailed country profile

ECONOMY

GDP real growth rate: 2% (2002 est.)

GDP-Composition by sector(2001)

  • Agriculture: 1%
  • Industry: 19%
  • Services: 80%

Labor force by occupation(2003):

  • Agriculture: 1%
  • Industry: 19%
  • Services: 80%

Agriculture products:

  • Fruit
  • Vegetables
  • Sorghum
  • Senepol cattle

Industries:

  • Tourism
  • Petroleum refining
  • Watch assembly
  • Rum distilling
  • Construction
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Textiles
  • Electronics

Exports: $4.234 billion (2001)

Export Commodities:Refined petroleum products

Imports: $4.609 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Import commodities:

  • Crude oil
  • Foodstuffs
  • Consumer goods
  • Building materials

Ports and Terminal:

  • Charlotte Amalie
  • Limetree Bay

Unemployment rate:6.2% (2004)

GOVERNMENT

Government Type:

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

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
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 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)

Legal system: Based on US laws

GEOGRAPHY

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 475 m

Natural resources:

  • Sun
  • Sand
  • Sea
  • Surf

Environment and current issues: Lack of natural freshwater resources

PEOPLE

Ethnic groups(2000):

  • Black 76.2%
  • White 13.1%
  • Asian 1.1%
  • Other 6.1%
  • Mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

Languages(2000):

  • English 74.7%
  • Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%
  • French or French Creole 6.6%
  • Other 1.9%

Religion(2000):

  • Baptist 42%
  • Roman Catholic 34%
  • Episcopalian 17%
  • Other 7%

HISTORY

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.

 

Source: The world factbook www.cia.gov