Virgin Islands
Introduction
Background
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.
Geography
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total
1,910 sq km
land
346 sq km
water
1,564 sq km
Area - comparative
twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Coastline
188 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
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 flat land
Elevation
highest point
Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Land use
agricultural land
9.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.)
forest
58.2% (2023 est.)
other
32.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
1 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
Natural hazards
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
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
People and Society
Population
total
103,792 (2025 est.)
male
49,195
female
54,597
Nationality
noun
Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective
Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups
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.)
Languages
English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)
Religions
Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.)
Age structure
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
68 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
30.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
37.1 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.7 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
43.4 years (2025 est.)
male
42.1 years
female
43.9 years
Population growth rate
-0.58% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
10.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
9.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-7.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
Urbanization
urban population
96.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
-0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
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.)
Infant mortality rate
total
7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
80.7 years (2024 est.)
male
77.6 years
female
84.1 years
Total fertility rate
1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.95 (2025 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing
Climate
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Land use
agricultural land
9.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.)
forest
58.2% (2023 est.)
other
32.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
96.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
-0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
146,500 tons (2024 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Virgin Islands
former
Danish West Indies
abbreviation
VI
etymology
in 1493, the islets, cays, and rocks around the major islands in the chain reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time was shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
Government type
unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Dependency status
unincorporated, organized territory of the US, with policy relations with the US federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
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)
etymology
named in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V’s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel, after the colony was established in 1672
Administrative divisions
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 islands are considered second-order: Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Legal system
US common law
Constitution
history
22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory
Citizenship
see United States
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
head of government
Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019)
cabinet
Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate
election/appointment process
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, but they can vote in the Democratic and Republican party 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)
most recent election date
8 November 2022
election results
<em><br>2022:</em> Albert BRYAN, Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 56%, Kurt VIALET (independent) 38%<br><br><em>2018: </em>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%
expected date of next election
November 2026
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)
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
Political parties
Democratic Party<br>Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM<br>Republican Party
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of the US)
International organization participation
AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Independence
none (territory of the US)
National holiday
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
Flag
<strong>description:</strong> 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 its left, with a shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> white is a symbol of purity, and the letters stand for the Virgin Islands
National anthem(s)
title
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
lyrics/music
Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
history
official anthem, as a US territory
Economy
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$4.9 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$4.965 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$4.789 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
-1.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021
3.7% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2020
-1.6% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$46,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2021
$46,900 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2020
$45,100 (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.672 billion (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
68.9% (2022 est.)
government consumption
34.4% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital
7.5% (2016 est.)
investment in inventories
15% (2016 est.)
exports of goods and services
97.4% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services
-108.3% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries
tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics
Labor force
47,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024
12.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
12.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
13.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total
25.3% (2024 est.)
male
22% (2024 est.)
female
28.9% (2024 est.)
Budget
revenues
$1.496 billion (2016 est.)
expenditures
$1.518 billion (2016 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2014
45.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$4.549 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021
$4.069 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2020
$1.62 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019)
Imports
Imports 2022
$5.058 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021
$4.057 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020
$3.184 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019)
Exchange rates
<p>the US dollar is used</p>
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity
326,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption
618.819 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
50.181 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
97.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
exports
4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
76,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
88 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
79,100 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
92 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
about a dozen TV stations, including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available; 24 radio stations
Internet country code
.vi
Internet users
percent of population
64% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
9,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
10 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Airports
2 (2025)
Heliports
4 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
2 (2023)
by type
general cargo 1, other 1
Ports
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
Military and Security
Military and security forces
US Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD); US Virgin Islands National Guard (VING)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US