Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Virgin Islands (2003) - Luxembourg (2001)

Compare Virgin Islands (2003) z Luxembourg (2001)

 Virgin Islands (2003)Luxembourg (2001)
 Virgin IslandsLuxembourg
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 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
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.)
0-14 years:
18.91% (male 43,051; female 40,711)

15-64 years:
67.03% (male 149,781; female 147,165)

65 years and over:
14.06% (male 24,921; female 37,343) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Airports 2 (2002) 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


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

over 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
1

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total:
2,586 sq km

land:
2,586 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Rhode Island
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. Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union) and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Birth rate 15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 12.25 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
revenues:
$5.6 billion

expenditures:
$5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Luxembourg
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Coastline 188 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form:
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

conventional short form:
Luxembourg

local long form:
Grand Duche de Luxembourg

local short form:
Luxembourg
Currency US dollar (USD) Luxembourg franc (LUF); euro (EUR)

note:
on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Luxembourg at a fixed rate of 40.3399 Luxembourg francs per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
Death rate 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.88 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $NA $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) chief of mission:
Ambassador James C. HORMEL

embassy:
22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City

mailing address:
American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)

telephone:
[352] 46 01 23

FAX:
[352] 46 14 01
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission:
Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS

chancery:
2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-4171

FAX:
[1] (202) 328-8270

consulate(s) general:
New York and San Francisco
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $160 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient $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, reduce crime, and protect the environment. The stable, high-income economy features solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a substantial proportion of the economy. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-border workers for 30% of its labor force. Luxembourg has a custom union with Belgium and the Netherlands, and, as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.
Electricity - consumption 957.9 million kWh (2001) 6.149 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 655 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 6.201 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.03 billion kWh (2001) 648 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel:
36.88%

hydro:
53.09%

nuclear:
0%

other:
10.03% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point:
Moselle River 133 m

highest point:
Buurgplaatz 559 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements - party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups 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%
Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kososvo) and European (guest and resident workers)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Luxembourg francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996); note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
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 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%
chief of state:
Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981);

head of government:
Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August 1999)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the monarch, following popular election to the Chamber of Deputies; they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies

note:
government coalition - CSV and DP
Exports NA (2001) $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico EU 75% (Germany 25%, France 21%, Belgium 13%, UK 8%, Italy 6%, Netherlands 5%), US 4% (1999)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
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 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $15.9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture:
1%

industry:
30%

services:
69% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $36,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2001 est.) 5.7% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 49 45 N, 6 10 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 landlocked
Heliports - 1 (2000 est.)
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)
total:
5,166 km

paved:
5,166 km (including 118 km of expressways)

unpaved:
0 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports NA (2001) $10 billion (c.i.f., 2000)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico EU 81% (Belgium 35%, Germany 26%, France 12%, Netherlands 4%), US 9% (1999)
Independence - 1839 (from the Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 7.8% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
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.)
4.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (1992) 7.8% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) 8 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 10 sq km (including Belgium) (1993 est.)
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are appointed for life by the monarch
Labor force 49,000 (2002 est.) 248,000 (of whom 70,200 are foreign cross-border workers primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) services 83.2%, industry 14.3%, agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
356 km

border countries:
Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 135 km
Land use arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
arable land:
24%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
20%

forests and woodland:
35%

other:
20%
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)
Legal system based on US laws based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2004)

election results:
percent of vote by party - CSV 29.79%, DP 21.58%, LSAP 23.75%, ADR 10.36%, Green Party 9.09%, the Left 3.77%; seats by party - CSV 19, DP 15, LSAP 13, ADR 6, Green Party 5, the Left 2

note:
the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members who are appointed and dismissed by the Grand Duke based on proposals from the government, the Chamber of Deputies, or the Council of State, is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.59 years


male: 74.73 years


female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)
total population:
77.3 years

male:
74.02 years

female:
80.8 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


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

total population:
100%

male:
100%

female:
100% (2000 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Western Europe, between France and Germany
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total:
50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 988,450 GRT/1,313,498 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 2, chemical tanker 11, container 2, liquefied gas 18, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 7

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 4 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - Army; note - the government abolished the Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $131 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1% (FY98/99)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
112,714 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
92,817 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 19 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
2,565 (2001 est.)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun:
Luxembourger(s)

adjective:
Luxembourg
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes NA
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 9.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 48 km
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Robert MEHLEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian Social Party or PCS) [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie POLFER]; Green Party [Abbes JACOBY and Felix BRAS]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN]; Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)
Population 124,778 (July 2003 est.) 442,972 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.02% (2003 est.) 1.26% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Mertert
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios - 285,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
274 km

standard gauge:
274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1998)
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% the greatest preponderance of the population is Roman Catholic with a very few Protestants, Jews, and Muslims

note:
1979 legislation forbids the collection of religious statistics
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.)
at birth:
1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 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 and compulsory
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:
highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables

domestic:
nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable

international:
3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Telephones - main lines in use 65,000 (1997) 314,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) 215,741 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 5 (1999)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast
Total fertility rate 2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.7 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) 2.7% (2000 est.)
Waterways none 37 km (on the Moselle)
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.