Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,542
females age 16-49: 20,946
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 744
female: 788
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Airports: 2
country comparison to the world: 206
Roadways: total: 1,260 km
country comparison to the world: 179
Ports and terminals: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay
Telephones - main lines in use: 75,800
country comparison to the world: 152
Telephones - mobile cellular: 80,300
country comparison to the world: 193
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; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA
Broadcast media: about a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations
Internet country code: .vi
Internet hosts: 4,876
country comparison to the world: 144
Internet users: 30,000
country comparison to the world: 180
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.4 million visitors in 2008. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, rum distilling, 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.
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
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
Legal system: US common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Ethnic groups: black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5%
Languages: English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9%
Religions: Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%
Population: 105,275
country comparison to the world: 192
Median age: total: 40.9 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 41.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.088%
country comparison to the world: 201
Net migration rate: -4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 190
Urbanization: urban population: 95% of total population
rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change
Major cities - population: CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 54,000
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.47 years
country comparison to the world: 39
male: 76.43 years
female: 82.69 years
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman
country comparison to the world: 158
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Area - comparative:
Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43%
Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
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
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.
