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Compare Virgin Islands (2002) - Svalbard (2005)

Compare Virgin Islands (2002) z Svalbard (2005)

 Virgin Islands (2002)Svalbard (2005)
 Virgin IslandsSvalbard
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: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443)


65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)		 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle -
Airports 2 (2001) 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)		 total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km		 total: 62,049 sq km


land: 62,049 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than West Virginia
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 discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.
Birth rate 15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)		 revenues: $11.5 million


expenditures: $11.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Longyearbyen
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Coastline 188 km 3,587 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		 conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
Currency US dollar (USD) -
Death rate 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
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 territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) -
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) -
Disputes - international none despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
Economic aid - recipient $NA $8.2 million from Norway (1998)
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, reduce crime, and protect the environment. Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.
Electricity - consumption 948.6 million kWh (1999) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (1999) -
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: Arctic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources NA
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%		 Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002), 8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000)
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 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%		 chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)


head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since 8 June 2001) and Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since NA)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Exports $NA $NA
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products -
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico -
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 the flag of Norway is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%		 -
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate NA% NA%
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 78 00 N, 20 00 E
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 northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
Highways total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)		 total: NA km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%		 -
Imports $NA $NA
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials -
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico -
Independence - none (territory of Norway)
Industrial production growth rate NA% -
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics -
Infant mortality rate 9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% -
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) -
Labor force 48,356 NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) -
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)		 arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) (2001)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole Norwegian, Russian
Legal system based on US laws NA
Legislative branch 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: 78.43 years


male: 74.55 years


female: 82.53 years (2002 est.)		 total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%		 NA
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Arctic Region
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM		 territorial sea: 4 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) -
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) NA
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander		 -
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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 123,498 (July 2002 est.) 2,701 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% -
Population growth rate 1.04% (2002 est.) -0.02% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 107,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions 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: 0.75 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 est.)		 NA%
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections -
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: probably adequate


domestic: local telephone service


international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Telephones - main lines in use 62,000 (1997) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) NA
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) NA
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Total fertility rate 2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) -
Waterways none -
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