Compare Virgin Islands (2007) - British Virgin Islands (2006)

Compare Virgin Islands (2007) z British Virgin Islands (2006)

	Virgin Islands (2007)	British Virgin Islands (2006)

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 territory of the UK)
Age structure	0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911) 65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)	0-14 years: 20.5% (male 2,403/female 2,331) 15-64 years: 74.3% (male 8,811/female 8,340) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 636/female 577) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products	fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle	fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Airports	2 (2007)	3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways	-	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Area	total: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km	total: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
Area - comparative	twice the size of Washington, DC	about 0.9 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.	First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Birth rate	13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	14.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget	revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA	revenues: $204.7 million expenditures: $180.4 million; including capital expenditures of $33.8 million (1997)
Capital	name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	name: Road Town geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate	subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November	subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline	188 km	80 km
Constitution	Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954	1 June 1977, amended in 2000
Country name	conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI	conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Death rate	6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external	$NA	$36.1 million (1997)
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 territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (territory of the US)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (territory of the US)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable 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, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.
Electricity - consumption	926.4 million kWh (2005)	32.13 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production	996.1 million kWh (2005)	34.55 million kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Environment - current issues	lack of natural freshwater resources	limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Ethnic groups	black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)	black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used	the US dollar is used
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 John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: NA elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010) election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Dr. Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June 2003) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Exports	NA bbl/day	NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities	refined petroleum products	rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners	US, Puerto Rico (2006)	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
Fiscal year	1 October - 30 September	1 April - 31 March
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	blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)	agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	2% (2002 est.)	1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	18 20 N, 64 50 W	18 30 N, 64 30 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	strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	-	transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering
Imports	NA bbl/day	NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities	crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials	building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners	US, Puerto Rico (2006)	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
Independence	none (territory of the US)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	NA%
Industries	tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics	tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Infant mortality rate	total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)	total: 16.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2.2% (2003)	2% (2005)
International organization participation	IOC, UPU	Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU
Irrigated land	NA	NA
Judicial branch	US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)	Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Labor force	43,980 (2004 est.)	12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)	agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4%
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2005)
Languages	English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)	English (official)
Legal system	based on US laws	English law
Legislative branch	unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)	unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held in 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 79.2 years male: 75.4 years female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)	total population: 76.68 years male: 75.56 years female: 77.84 years (2006 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA% female: NA% (2005 est.)	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
Location	Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico	Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm	territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	-	registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the US	defense is the responsibility of the UK
National holiday	Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)	Territory Day, 1 July
Nationality	noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander	noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Natural hazards	several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources	sun, sand, sea, surf	NEGL
Net migration rate	-8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)	9.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Political parties and leaders	Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]	Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	108,448 (July 2007 est.)	23,098 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA% (2002)	NA%
Population growth rate	-0.171% (2007 est.)	1.97% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)	AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Religions	Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%	Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections	18 years of age; universal
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: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use	71,700 (2005)	11,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular	80,300 (2005)	8,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations	5 (2006)	1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Terrain	mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land	coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Total fertility rate	2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.)	1.72 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate	6.2% (2004)	3.6% (1997)

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