*Virgin Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  352 km2
 land area:
  349 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  188 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 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 km2
Environment:
  rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods,
  earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources
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

*Virgin Islands, People

Population:
  98,130 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.26 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:   -22.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.29 years
 male:
  73.6 years
 female:
  77.2 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Virgin Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Virgin Islander; US citizens
Ethnic divisions:
  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%; black 80%,
  white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14%
Religions:
  Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
  English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  45,500 (1988)
 by occupation:
  tourism 70%

*Virgin Islands, 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)
Constitution:   Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
  based on US
National holiday:
  Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM),
  Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Governor:
  last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results -
  Governor Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) 56.5% defeated Juan LUIS
  (independent) 38.5%
 Senate:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) number of seats by party NA
 US House of Representatives:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results - Ron
  DE LUGO reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total); seat by party NA; note -
  the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of
  Representatives
Executive branch:
  US president, popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Senate
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
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
  Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor
  Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987)
Member of:
  ECLAC (associate), IOC

*Virgin Islands, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of the US)
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

*Virgin Islands, 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 equivalent - $1.2 billion (1987)
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 (FY90)
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%; accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
  380,000 kW capacity; 565 million kWh produced, 5,710 kWh per capita (1992)
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:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42
  million
Currency:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Virgin Islands, Communications

Highways:
  856 km total
Ports:
  Saint Croix - Christiansted, Frederiksted; Saint Thomas - Long Bay, Crown
  Bay, Red Hook; Saint John - Cruz Bay
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways :
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
 note:
  international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix
Telecommunications:
  modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave
  radio, and satellite facilities; 58,931 telephones; 98,000 radios; 63,000 TV
  sets in use; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV (1988)

*Virgin Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US