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Compare Virgin Islands (2001) - British Virgin Islands (2007)

Compare Virgin Islands (2001) z British Virgin Islands (2007)

 Virgin Islands (2001)British Virgin Islands (2007)
 Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands
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 none (overseas territory of the UK)
Age structure 0-14 years:
27.27% (male 17,121; female 16,204)

15-64 years:
63.92% (male 35,391; female 42,727)

65 years and over:
8.81% (male 4,638; female 6,130) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 20.2% (male 2,410/female 2,337)


15-64 years: 74.5% (male 9,004/female 8,534)


65 years and over: 5.4% (male 665/female 602) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Airports 2

note:
international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (2000 est.)
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Area total:
352 sq km

land:
349 sq km

water:
3 sq km
total: 153 sq km


land: 153 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC about 0.9 times 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. First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Birth rate 15.9 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.82 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues:
$364.4 million

expenditures:
$364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
revenues: $204.7 million


expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)
Capital Charlotte Amalie name: Road Town


geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 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 May to November subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline 188 km 80 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 13 June 2007
Country name conventional long form:
United States Virgin Islands

conventional short form:
Virgin Islands

former:
Danish West Indies
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: British Virgin Islands


abbreviation: BVI
Currency US dollar (USD) -
Death rate 5.47 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $NA $36.1 million (1997)
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 overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $NA
Economy - overview 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, and protect the environment. The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 820,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2005. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.
Electricity - consumption 948.6 million kWh (1999) 41.85 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (1999) 45 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Ethnic groups black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

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%
black 83%, other 17% (includes white, Indian, Asian and mixed)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used 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 Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)

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 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)

election results:
Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, former Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)


head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007)


cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor
Exports $NA NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 April - 31 March
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 blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: 1.8%


industry: 6.2%


services: 92% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate NA% 1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 18 30 N, 64 30 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 strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Highways total:
856 km

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km (2000)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering
Imports $NA NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)
Independence - none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Infant mortality rate 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 16.13 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 13.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 2% (2005)
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Labor force 47,443 (1990 est.) 12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) agriculture: 0.6%


industry: 40%


services: 59.4% (2005)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land:
15%

permanent crops:
6%

permanent pastures:
26%

forests and woodland:
6%

other:
47% (1993 est.)
arable land: 20%


permanent crops: 6.67%


other: 73.33% (2005)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole English (official)
Legal system based on US laws English law
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

elections:
last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 6, ICM 2, independents 7

note:
the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) elected
unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1
Life expectancy at birth total population:
78.27 years

male:
74.38 years

female:
82.39 years (2001 est.)
total population: 76.86 years


male: 75.71 years


female: 78.07 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition:
NA

total population:
NA%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) -
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US defense is the responsibility of the UK
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Nationality noun:
Virgin Islander(s)

adjective:
Virgin Islander
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: British Virgin Islander
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf NEGL
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHON]; Republican Party [Gary SCROUVE] Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 122,211 (July 2001 est.) 23,552 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.06% (2001 est.) 1.923% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix -
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios 107,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
0.83 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female

total population:
0.88 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.031 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.055 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.105 male(s)/female


total population: 1.053 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay

international:
submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment: worldwide telephone service


domestic: NA


international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use 62,000 (1997) 11,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) 8,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Total fertility rate 2.25 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.72 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) 3.6% (1997)
Waterways none -
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