SPAMfighter information about
Virgin Islands
| The data on this page is obtained from The World Factbook. |
 Communications information
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| SPAMfighters: | 125 |
| Internet users: | 30,000 (2002) |
| Internet hosts: | 3,855 (2006) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 50 (2000) |
| Internet country code: | .vi |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 70,900 (2004) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 64,200 (2004) |
| 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; 2 submarine cable connections (Taino Carib, Americas-1); satellite earth stations - NA |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006) |
| Radios: | 107,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 5 (2006) |
| Televisions: | 68,000 (1997) |
 Geographical information
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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 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 475 m |
| Natural resources: | sun, sand, sea, surf |
| Land use: |
arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | NA |
| 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 |
 People information
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| Population: | 108,605 (July 2006 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 12,261/female 12,056) 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 34,174/female 37,949) 65 years and over: 11.2% (male 5,385/female 6,780) (2006 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 37.1 years male: 36.2 years female: 38 years (2006 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.12% (2006 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 13.96 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Death rate: | 6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -8.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 7.86 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 79.05 years male: 75.24 years female: 83.09 years (2006 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.17 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
| 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.) |
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Governmental information
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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 United States with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the United States under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, United States 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 United States Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas |
| National holiday: | Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) |
| Constitution: | Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 |
| Legal system: | based on United States laws |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal; island residents are United States citizens but do not vote in United States presidential elections |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the United States (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) cabinet: NA elections: under the United States Consitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for United States president and vice president; 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) election results: John DeJONGH elected governor and takes office in January 2007; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7% |
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the United States House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008); results - Donna M. CHRISTENSEN (Democrat) reelected |
| 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 and leaders: | Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens´ Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA |
| International organization participation: | IOC, UPU |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of the US) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of the US) |
| Flag description: | white, with a modified United States 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 one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel |
 Economical information
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| Economy - overview: | Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, 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. One of the world´s largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject 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.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | NA |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2% (2002 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $14,500 (2004 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) |
| Labor force: | 43,980 (2004 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 6.2% (2004) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.2% (2003) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA |
| Agriculture - products: | fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle |
| Industries: | tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | 1.04 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 967.3 million kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2003) |
| Oil - production: | 14,650 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 105,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Exports: | $4.234 billion $NA |
| Exports - commodities: | refined petroleum products |
| Exports - partners: | US, Puerto Rico (2004) |
| Imports: | $4.609 billion $NA |
| Imports - commodities: | crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials |
| Imports - partners: | US, Puerto Rico (2004) |
| Debt - external: | $NA |
| Currency (code): | US dollar (USD) |
| Currency code: | USD |
| Exchange rates: | the United States dollar is used |
| Fiscal year: | 1 October - 30 September |
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Transportations information
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| Airports: | 2 (2006) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006) |
| Roadways: | total: 1,257 km (2004) |
| Ports and terminals: | Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay |
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Information about transnational issues
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| Disputes - international: | none |
