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Central America and the Caribbean
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the northern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John and inflicted severe damage to structures, roads, the airport on Saint Thomas, communications, and electricity. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed over the island of Saint Croix in the southern Virgin Islands, inflicting considerable damage with heavy winds and flooding rains.
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Central America and the Caribbean
Total : 1,910 km²
Land: 346 km²
Water: 1,564 km²
Twice the size of Washington, DC
Total: 0 km
188 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land
Highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Agricultural land: 11.5% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5.7% (2018 est.)
Forest: 57.4% (2018 est.)
Other: 31.1% (2018 est.)
1 km² (2012)
While overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
Several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
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
Total: 104,377
Male: 49,520
Female: 54,857 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 191; male 195; total 192
Noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
Adjective: Virgin Islander
African-American or African descent 71.4%, White 13.3%, Indigenous 0.4%, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.1%, other 6.3%, mixed 7.5% (2020 est.)
Note: 18.4% self-identify as Latino
English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)
Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.)
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 9,983/female 9,547)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 29,519/female 32,899)
65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 10,018/female 12,411)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 64.6
Youth dependency ratio: 32
Elderly dependency ratio: 34
Potential support ratio: 3 (2021 est.)
Total: 43 years (2024 est.)
Male: 42.1 years
Female: 43.9 years
-0.54% (2024 est.)
11.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-7.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
While overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
Urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 80.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 77.6 years
Female: 84.1 years
1.97 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.95 (2024 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 98.7% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.)
NA
NA
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 99.4% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
NA
27.4% (2023)
NA
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing
Subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Agricultural land: 11.5% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5.7% (2018 est.)
Forest: 57.4% (2018 est.)
Other: 31.1% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0% of GDP (2017 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 146,500 tons (2012 est.)
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Virgin Islands
Former: Danish West Indies
Abbreviation: VI
Etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
Unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Unincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US Federal Government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Name: Charlotte Amalie
Geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: originally called Taphus in Danish - meaning "tap house" or "beer house" because of its many beer halls - the town received a more dignified name in 1691 when it was named Charlotte Amalie in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V’s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714)
None (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
None (territory of the US)
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
History: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory
Amendments: amended several times, last in 2012
US common law
See United States
18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN, Jr. (since 20 January 2021)
Head of government: Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019)
Cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate
Elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026)
Election results:
2022: Albert BRYAN, Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 56%, Kurt VIALET (independent) 38%
2018: Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other 0.3%
Description: unicameral Legislature of the Virgin Islands (15 seats; senators directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 2-year terms)
The Virgin Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term
Elections: Legislature of the Virgin Islands last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held on 5 November 2024)
Delegate to the US House of Representatives last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held on 5 November 2024)
Election results: Legislature of the Virgin Islands - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, independent 6; composition - men 10, women 5, percent of women 33.3%
Delegate to US House of Representatives - seat by party - Democratic Party 1
Note: the Virgin Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote
Highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by the US Congress in 2004 and assumed appellate jurisdiction in 2007
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term
Subordinate courts: Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district); District Court of the Virgin Islands
Democratic Party [Stacey PLASKETT]
Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Dale BLYDEN]
Republican Party [John CANEGATA]
AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
White field 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 its right talon and three arrows in the left with a superimposed shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel; white is a symbol of purity, the letters stand for the Virgin Islands
Name: "Virgin Islands March"
Lyrics/music: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.
Note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)
High-income, tourism-based American territorial economy; severe COVID-19 economic disruptions; major rum distillery; high public debt; sluggish reopening of large oil refinery; environmentally susceptible to hurricanes; many informal industries
$4.895 billion (2021 est.)
$4.759 billion (2020 est.)
$4.852 billion (2019 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
2.85% (2021 est.)
-1.92% (2020 est.)
2.93% (2019 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$46,200 (2021 est.)
$44,800 (2020 est.)
$45,500 (2019 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$4.444 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
1% (2016 est.)
2.6% (2015 est.)
Agriculture: 2% (2012 est.)
Industry: 20% (2012 est.)
Services: 78% (2012 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 37; industry 149; agriculture 175
Household consumption: 68.2% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 26.8% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 7.5% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: 15% (2016 est.) NA
Exports of goods and services: 46.7% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -64.3% (2016 est.)
Fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics
4.3% (2014 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
46,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
12.09% (2023 est.)
12.67% (2022 est.)
13.93% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 27% (2021 est.)
Male: 24.1%
Female: 37.3%
28.9% (2002 est.)
Revenues: $1.496 billion (2016 est.)
Expenditures: $1.518 billion (2016 est.)
-0.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
53.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
45.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
28.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
$4.075 billion (2021 est.)
$1.62 billion (2020 est.)
$2.265 billion (2019 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019)
Refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019)
$4.065 billion (2021 est.)
$3.185 billion (2020 est.)
$4.139 billion (2019 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019)
Refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019)
NA
The US dollar is used
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 625.127 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 50 million kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 39; consumption 168; installed generating capacity 163
Fossil fuels: 97.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
2.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 76,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 80,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2021 est.)
General assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expansion of FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launches; regulatory development and expansion in several markets point to investment and focus on data (2020)
Domestic: fixed-line 76 per 100 persons, with mobile-cellular 80 per 100 (2021)
International: country code - 1-340; landing points for the BSCS, St Thomas-ST Croix System, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas II, GCN, MAC, PAN-AM and SAC submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA (2020)
About a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations
.vi
Total: 67,508 (2022 est.)
Percent of population: 64.8% (2022 est.)
2 (2024)
3 (2024)
Total: 1,260 km (2008)
Total: 2 (2023)
By type: general cargo 1, other 1
Total ports: 6 (2024)
Large: 0
Medium: 0
Small: 3
Very small: 3
Ports with oil terminals: 3
Key ports: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay, Port Alucroix
US Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD)
US Virgin Islands Army National Guard (VING); US Virgin Islands Air National Guard (VIANG)
Defense is the responsibility of the US