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Compare Virgin Islands (2004) - French Guiana (2002)

Compare Virgin Islands (2004) z French Guiana (2002)

 Virgin Islands (2004)French Guiana (2002)
 Virgin IslandsFrench Guiana
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 department of France)
Age structure 0-14 years: 23.8% (male 13,116; female 12,770)


15-64 years: 66% (male 33,944; female 37,870)


65 years and over: 10.2% (male 4,855; female 6,220) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 28,140; female 26,876)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 63,183; female 53,902)


65 years and over: 5.6% (male 5,192; female 5,040) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry
Airports 2 (2003 est.) 11 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total: 91,000 sq km


land: 89,150 sq km


water: 1,850 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Indiana
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 settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
Birth rate 14.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 21.66 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $560


expenditures: NA (2003)
revenues: $225 million


expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996) (1996)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Cayenne
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 188 km 378 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form: Department of Guiana


conventional short form: French Guiana


local long form: none


local short form: Guyane
Currency US dollar (USD) euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)
Death rate 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external NA $1.2 billion (1988) (1988)
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 department of France
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) none (overseas department of France)
Disputes - international none Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
Economic aid - recipient NA $NA
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and 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, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment. The economy is tied closely to the French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
Electricity - consumption 957.9 million kWh (2001) 418.5 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 1.03 billion kWh (2001) 450 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources NA
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%
black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (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: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002)


head of government: President of the General Council Joseph HO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)


cabinet: NA


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
Exports NA (2001) $155 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997)
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 the flag of France is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 4 00 N, 53 00 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 mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of the South American continent
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: 1,817 km


paved: 817 km


unpaved: 1,000 km (1998)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Imports NA (2001) $625 million c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997)
Independence - none (overseas department of France)
Industrial production growth rate NA NA%
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Infant mortality rate total: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
13.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2003) 2.5% (1992) (1992)
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU FZ, WCL, WFTU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 20 sq km (1998 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) Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Labor force 48,900 (2003 est.) 58,800 (1997) (1997)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.) services, government, and commerce 61%, industry 21%, agriculture 18% (1980)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,183 km


border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Land use arable land: 11.76%


permanent crops: 2.94%


other: 85.29% (2001)
arable land: 0.11% NEGL


permanent crops: 0.03%


other: 99.86% (90% forest, 10% other) (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole French
Legal system based on US laws French legal system
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 2 November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3


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 2 November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)


elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7, other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2


note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, Walwari Committee 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.75 years


male: 74.91 years


female: 82.82 years (2004 est.)
total population: 76.49 years


male: 73.16 years


female: 79.99 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


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


total population: 83%


male: 84%


female: 82% (1982 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Map references Central America and the Caribbean South America
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none none (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches - no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 50,504 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 32,720 (2002 est.)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)


adjective: French Guianese
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Net migration rate -8.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 8.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Guyanese Socialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party or PNPG [Jose DORCY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Roland HO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE]; Walwari Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 108,775 (July 2004 est.) 182,333 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate -0.05% (2004 est.) 2.57% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998)
Radios - 104,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Roman Catholic
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female


total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female


total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment: NA


domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 69,400 (2002) 47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 41,000 (2002) NA
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Total fertility rate 2.21 children born/woman (2004 est.) 3.13 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.3% (2003 est.) 21.4% (1998) (1998)
Waterways - 3,300 km navigable by native craft


note: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers
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