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Compare Virgin Islands (2005) - Christmas Island (2001)

Compare Virgin Islands (2005) z Christmas Island (2001)

 Virgin Islands (2005)Christmas Island (2001)
 Virgin IslandsChristmas Island
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 (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years: 23.1% (male 12,676/female 12,421)


15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,069/female 37,918)


65 years and over: 10.7% (male 5,125/female 6,499) (2005 est.)
0-14 years:
NA%

15-64 years:
NA%

65 years and over:
NA%
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle NA
Airports 2 (2004 est.) 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


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

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total:
135 sq km

land:
135 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC about 0.7 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. Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate 14.2 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues: $560


expenditures: NA (2003)
revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Charlotte Amalie The Settlement
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline 188 km 138.9 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 Christmas Island Act of 1958
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island

conventional short form:
Christmas Island
Currency - Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
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 territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international none none
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. Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island.
Electricity - consumption 962.6 million kWh (2002) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - production 1.035 billion kWh (2002) NA kWh
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
NA%

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


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

highest point:
Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources NA
Ethnic groups black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census) Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)
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 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:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general

head of government:
Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports NA $NA
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products phosphate
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico Australia, NZ
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 July - 30 June
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 Australia is used
GDP - purchasing power parity - $NA
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 - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 10 30 S, 105 40 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 located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Highways total: 1,257 km


paved: 1,192 km


unpaved: 65 km


note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2003)
total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)

paved:
30 km

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


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports NA $NA
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials consumer goods
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico principally Australia
Independence - none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate total: 8.03 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.11 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2003) NA%
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA 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) Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 48,900 (2003 est.) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.) tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 11.76%


permanent crops: 2.94%


other: 85.3% (2001)
arable land:
NA%

permanent crops:
NA%

permanent pastures:
NA%

forests and woodland:
NA%

other:
NA%

note:
mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park
Languages English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census) English, Chinese, Malay
Legal system based on US laws under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
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 Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)

elections:
last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.91 years


male: 75.08 years


female: 82.96 years (2005 est.)
total population:
NA years

male:
NA years

female:
NA years
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, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone:
12 NM

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM
Merchant marine - none (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US defense is the responsibility of Australia
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) NA
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun:
Christmas Islander(s)

adjective:
Christmas Island
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf phosphate
Net migration rate -8.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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] none
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 108,708 (July 2005 est.) 2,771 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate -0.07% (2005 est.) 7.77% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 17, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 1,000 (1997)
Railways - 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 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: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


domestic: full range of services available


international: country code - 1-340; 2 submarine cable connections (Taino Carib, Americas-1); satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service
Telephones - main lines in use 69,400 (2002) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 41,000 (2002) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 16 (2004) NA
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate 2.19 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate 9.3% (2003 est.) NA%
Waterways - none
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