-
You are here:
- Homepage » U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands Country Guide
Explore U.S. Virgin Islands in North America
U.S. Virgin Islands with the capital city Charlotte Amalie is located in North America (Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 352 square kilometres (twice the size of Washington, DC) with 108,708 citizens.
The landscape offers mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land. The average density of population is approximately 309 per km². The notable climate conditions in U.S. Virgin Islands can be described as subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation with rainy season September to November. Potential threats by nature are several hurricanes in recent years or frequent and severe droughts and floods or occasional earthquakes.
To reach someone in U.S. Virgin Islands dial +1-340 prior to a number. There are 75,000 installed telephones. And there are 80,300 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".vi". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of .
About the flag and history of U.S. Virgin Islands
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.
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by African 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.
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: North America Neighbours: Capital: Charlotte Amalie |
| Size | 352 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 135 square miles (mi² or sqmi) twice the size of Washington, DC |
| Population | 108,708 |
| Currency | Name Dollar, Currency Code:USD |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .vi |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +1-340 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 80,300 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 75,000 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 1,910 (sq km) | 182 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,737 | 193 |
| Population growth rate | -0.53 (%) | 224 |
| Birth rate | 10.69 (births/1,000 population) | 181 |
| Death rate | 7.95 (deaths/1,000 population) | 103 |
| Net migration rate | -8.01 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 203 |
| Infant mortality rate | 6.94 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 163 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.61 (years) | 40 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.77 (children born/woman) | 160 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 1,577,000,000 | 196 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 2.00 (%) | 132 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 14,500 | 92 |
| Labor force | 49,820 | 192 |
| Unemployment rate | 6.20 (%) | 61 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.20 (%) | 40 |
| Exports | 4,234,000,000 | 121 |
| Imports | 4,609,000,000 | 134 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 872,000,000 (kWh) | 151 |
| Electricity - consumption | 811,000,000 (kWh) | 155 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 323,000 (kW) | 148 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 100.00 (% of total installed capacity) | 43 |
| Crude oil - imports | 425,000 (bbl/day) | 20 |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 493,200 (bbl/day) | 33 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 106,100 (bbl/day) | 78 |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 390,000 (bbl/day) | 21 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 5,180 (bbl/day) | 155 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 11,950,000 (Mt) | 97 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 75,800 | 154 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 80,300 | 196 |
| Internet hosts | 4,790 | 146 |
| Internet users | 30,000 | 181 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 2 | 207 |
| Roadways | 1,260 (km) | 179 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases