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Compare Virgin Islands (2004) - Spratly Islands (2003)

Compare Virgin Islands (2004) z Spratly Islands (2003)

 Virgin Islands (2004)Spratly Islands (2003)
 Virgin IslandsSpratly 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 -
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.)		 -
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle -
Airports 2 (2003 est.) 3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


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


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km		 total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC NA
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. The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 50 islands are occupied by China (about 450 soldiers), Malaysia (70-90), the Philippines (about 100), and Vietnam (about 1,500). Brunei is a claimant but has no outposts. (2002)
Birth rate 14.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Budget revenues: $560


expenditures: NA (2003)		 -
Capital Charlotte Amalie -
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November tropical
Coastline 188 km 926 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: Spratly Islands
Currency US dollar (USD) -
Death rate 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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 none (territory of the US) -
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) -
Disputes - international none all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the island; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct"
Economic aid - recipient 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. Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Electricity - consumption 957.9 million kWh (2001) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) -
Electricity - production 1.03 billion kWh (2001) -
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m		 lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 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%		 -
Exchange rates the US dollar is used -
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%		 -
Exports NA (2001) -
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 -
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)		 -
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 8 38 N, 111 55 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 strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
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 (2001) -
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials -
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico -
Industrial production growth rate NA -
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics -
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.)		 -
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2003) -
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU -
Irrigated land NA sq km 0 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) -
Labor force 48,900 (2003 est.) -
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.) -
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 11.76%


permanent crops: 2.94%


other: 85.29% (2001)		 arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole -
Legal system based on US laws -
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		 -
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.75 years


male: 74.91 years


female: 82.82 years (2004 est.)		 -
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA		 -
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm		 NA
Merchant marine none -
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) -
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander		 -
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Net migration rate -8.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
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 108,775 (July 2004 est.) no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA -
Population growth rate -0.05% (2004 est.) -
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) -
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% -
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.)		 -
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections -
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		 -
Telephones - main lines in use 69,400 (2002) -
Telephones - mobile cellular 41,000 (2002) -
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) -
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land flat
Total fertility rate 2.21 children born/woman (2004 est.) -
Unemployment rate 9.3% (2003 est.) -
Waterways - none
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