Compare Holy See (Vatican City) (2008) - Virgin Islands (2003)

Compare Holy See (Vatican City) (2008) z Virgin Islands (2003)

	Holy See (Vatican City) (2008)	Virgin Islands (2003)

Administrative divisions	none	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: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794) 15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157) 65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products	-	fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports	-	2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	-	total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Area	total: 0.44 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative	about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC	twice the size of Washington, DC
Background	Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.	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	-	15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	revenues: $310 million expenditures: $307 million (2006)	revenues: $364.4 million expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Capital	name: Vatican City geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October	Charlotte Amalie
Climate	temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)	subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Coastline	0 km (landlocked)	188 km
Constitution	new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)	Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name	conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)	conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies
Currency	-	US dollar (USD)
Death rate	-	5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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	chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann GLENDON embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346	none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036	none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international	none	none
Economic aid - recipient	-	$NA
Economy - overview	This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world; by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.	Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of 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 a small but growing component 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, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment.
Electricity - consumption	NA kWh	957.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	-	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	NA kWh	1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source	-	fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment - current issues	NA	lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment - international agreements	party to: Climate Change signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification	-
Ethnic groups	Italians, Swiss, other	black 78%, white 10%, other 12% note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%
Exchange rates	euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)	the US dollar is used
Executive branch	chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005) head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006) cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI	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 Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA January 2003) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006) election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
Exports	-	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	-	refined petroleum products
Exports - partners	-	US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year	calendar year	1 October - 30 September
Flag description	two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band	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	-	purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	-	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	-	2% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates	41 54 N, 12 27 E	18 20 N, 64 50 W
Geography - note	landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)	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
Highways	-	total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	-	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	-	crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners	-	US, Puerto Rico
Independence	11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century	-
Industrial production growth rate	-	NA%
Industries	printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities	tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Infant mortality rate	-	total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	-	2% (1992)
International organization participation	CE (observer), CPLP (associate), IAEA, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)	ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	-	50 (2000)
Irrigated land	0 sq km	NA sq km
Judicial branch	there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946	US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Labor force	NA	49,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican	agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Land boundaries	total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)	arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% other: 79% (1998 est.)
Languages	Italian, Latin, French, various other languages	English (official), Spanish, Creole
Legal system	based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it	based on US laws
Legislative branch	unicameral Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City	unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Life expectancy at birth	-	total population: 78.59 years male: 74.73 years female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)
Literacy	definition: NA total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%	definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Location	Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)	Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references	Europe	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	none (landlocked)	exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine	-	none (2002 est.)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard	defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches	Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)	-
National holiday	Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)	Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality	noun: none adjective: none	noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander
Natural hazards	NA	several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources	none	sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate	-	0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders	none	Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders	none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)	NA
Population	821 (July 2007 est.)	124,778 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA%
Population growth rate	0% (2007 est.)	1.02% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	-	Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Radio broadcast stations	AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)	AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Railways	-	0 km
Religions	Roman Catholic	Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Sex ratio	-	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage	limited to cardinals less than 80 years old	18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Telephone system	general assessment: automatic digital exchange domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network international: country code - 39; uses Italian system	general assessment: NA domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Telephones - main lines in use	5,120 (2005)	65,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	-	2,000 (1992)
Television broadcast stations	1 (2005)	2 (2002)
Terrain	urban; low hill	mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate	-	2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate	-	4.9% (March 1999)
Waterways	-	none

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