Virgin Islands (2008)

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Virgin Islands 2008 year


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
Age structure	0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911) 65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports	2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Area	total: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km
Area - comparative	twice the size of Washington, DC
Background	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.
Birth rate	13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget	revenues: $NA expenditures: $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)
Climate	subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Coastline	188 km
Constitution	Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name	conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI
Death rate	6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external	$NA
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
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international	none
Economic aid - recipient	$NA
Economy - overview	Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable 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.
Electricity - consumption	926.4 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production	996.1 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m
Environment - current issues	lack of natural freshwater resources
Ethnic groups	black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used
Executive branch	chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) 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; 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; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
Exports	0 kWh (2005)
Exports	$4.234 billion (2001)
Exports	0 cu m (2005 est.)
Exports	397,400 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities	refined petroleum products
Exports - partners	US, Puerto Rico (2006)
Fiscal year	1 October - 30 September
Flag description	white, 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 one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	18 20 N, 64 50 W
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
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	0 kWh (2005)
Imports	$4.609 billion (2001)
Imports	0 cu m (2005)
Imports	493,000 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities	crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners	US, Puerto Rico (2006)
Independence	none (territory of the US)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%
Industries	tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Infant mortality rate	total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2.2% (2003)
International organization participation	IOC, UPU
Irrigated land	NA
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)
Labor force	43,980 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)
Land boundaries	0 km
Land use	arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)
Languages	English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Legal system	based on US laws
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 US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 79.2 years male: 75.4 years female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA% female: NA% (2005 est.)
Location	Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the US
National holiday	Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality	noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander
Natural hazards	several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources	sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate	-8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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
Population	108,448 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	28.9% (2002)
Population growth rate	-0.171% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)
Religions	Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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
Telephones - main lines in use	71,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular	80,300 (2005)
Television broadcast stations	5 (2006)
Terrain	mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate	2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate	6.2% (2004)

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