Match 256 DB Rec# - 7,708 Dataset-WOFACT
Title :Virgin Islands
Text :
Virgin Islands
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
Geography
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of Puerto Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
352 sq km
land area:
349 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity,
little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
26%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
47%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources
natural hazards:
rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and
earthquakes
international agreements:
NA
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
Population:
97,229 (July 1995 est.)
note:
West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the
West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
Age structure:
0-14 years:
NA
15-64 years:
NA
65 years and over:
NA
Population growth rate:
-0.29% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
18.49 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
-16.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.29 years
male:
73.6 years
female:
77.2 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Virgin Islander(s)
adjective:
Virgin Islander
Ethnic divisions:
black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
NA%
Labor force:
45,500 (1988)
by occupation:
tourism 70%
Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form:
Virgin Islands
Digraph:
VQ
Type:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of
Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Constitution:
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
based on US
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens
but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995); Lieutenant Governor
Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995); election last held 22 November 1994
(next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER
(Independent) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Senate:
elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) Democrats 7,
Independents 7, Republican 1
US House of Representatives:
elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996);
results - Victor O. FRAZER (Independent) 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON
(Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) Independent 1; note - the Virgin Islands
elects one representative to the US House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
US District Court:
handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and
over), and federal cases
Territorial Court:
handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic,
misdemeanors, and traffic cases
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM),
Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
Member of:
ECLAC (associate), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of the US)
Government
Flag:
white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue
initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an 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
Economy
Overview:
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of
GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile,
electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural
sector is small, most food being imported. International business and
financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of
the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1987 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$11,000 (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$364.4 million
expenditures:
$364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Exports:
$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
refined petroleum products
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
Imports:
$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 12% (year NA); accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
320,000 kW
production:
970 million kWh
consumption per capita:
9,172 kWh (1993)
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction,
pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Agriculture:
truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42
million
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Economy
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Transportation
Railroads:
0 km
Highways:
total:
856 km
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
total:
2
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
note:
international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix
Communications
Telephone system:
58,931 telephones; modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable,
submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities
local:
NA
intercity:
NA
international:
NA
Radio:
broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
radios:
98,000
Television:
broadcast stations:
4 (1988)
televisions:
63,000
Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
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The printed version of this item can be found under the title:
The World Factbook 1995,
SuDoc No: PREX 3.15:995
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