Virgin Islands

Code: VQ | Region: Central America N Caribbean

Introduction

Background

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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

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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates

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18 20 N, 64 50 W

Map references

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Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total

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1,910 sq km

land

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346 sq km

water

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1,564 sq km

Area - comparative

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twice the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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188 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

Climate

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subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

Terrain

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mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land

Elevation

highest point

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Crown Mountain 474 m

lowest point

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Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural resources

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pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Land use

agricultural land

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9.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.)

forest

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58.2% (2023 est.)

other

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32.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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1 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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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

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several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Geography - note

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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

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103,792 (2025 est.)

male

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49,195

female

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54,597

Nationality

noun

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Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)

adjective

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Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups

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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.)

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note: 18.4% self-identify as Latino

Languages

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English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)

Religions

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Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years

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18.7% (male 9,983/female 9,547)

15-64 years

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59.8% (male 29,519/female 32,899)

65 years and over

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21.5% (2024 est.) (male 10,018/female 12,411)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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68 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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30.9 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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37.1 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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2.7 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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43.4 years (2025 est.)

male

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42.1 years

female

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43.9 years

Population growth rate

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-0.58% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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10.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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9.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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-7.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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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

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96.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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-0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.81 male(s)/female

total population

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0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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80.7 years (2024 est.)

male

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77.6 years

female

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84.1 years

Total fertility rate

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1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.95 (2025 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

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total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing

Climate

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subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

Land use

agricultural land

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9.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.)

forest

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58.2% (2023 est.)

other

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32.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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96.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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-0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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146,500 tons (2024 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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none

conventional short form

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Virgin Islands

former

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Danish West Indies

abbreviation

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etymology

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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

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unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Dependency status

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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

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Charlotte Amalie

geographic coordinates

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18 21 N, 64 56 W

time difference

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UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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named in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V’s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel, after the colony was established in 1672

Administrative divisions

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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

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US common law

Constitution

history

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22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory

Citizenship

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see United States

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

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note: island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch

chief of state

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President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

head of government

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Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019)

cabinet

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Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate

election/appointment process

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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

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8 November 2022

election results

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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%

expected date of next election

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November 2026

Legislative branch

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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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office

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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

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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

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Democratic Party Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM Republican Party

Diplomatic representation in the US

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none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

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AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

Independence

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none (territory of the US)

National holiday

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Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)

Flag

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description: 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 meaning: white is a symbol of purity, and the letters stand for the Virgin Islands

National anthem(s)

title

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"The Star-Spangled Banner"

lyrics/music

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Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

history

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official anthem, as a US territory

Economy

Economic overview

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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

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$4.9 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

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$4.965 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

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$4.789 billion (2020 est.)

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note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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-1.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

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3.7% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

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-1.6% (2020 est.)

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note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$46,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

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$46,900 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

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$45,100 (2020 est.)

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note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$4.672 billion (2022 est.)

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note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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68.9% (2022 est.)

government consumption

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34.4% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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7.5% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories

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15% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

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97.4% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-108.3% (2022 est.)

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note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Industries

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tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics

Labor force

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47,200 (2024 est.)

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note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

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12.1% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

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12.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

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13.1% (2022 est.)

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note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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25.3% (2024 est.)

male

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22% (2024 est.)

female

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28.9% (2024 est.)

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note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Budget

revenues

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$1.496 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

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$1.518 billion (2016 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2014

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45.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

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$4.549 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

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$4.069 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2020

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$1.62 billion (2020 est.)

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note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities

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refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019)

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top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2022

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$5.058 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2021

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$4.057 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2020

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$3.184 billion (2020 est.)

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note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities

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refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019)

Exchange rates

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the US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

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100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity

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326,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

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618.819 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

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50.181 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

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97.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

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2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

exports

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4 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

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16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

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76,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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88 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

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79,100 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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92 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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about a dozen TV stations, including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available; 24 radio stations

Internet country code

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.vi

Internet users

percent of population

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64% (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

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9,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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10 (2022 est.)

Transportation

Airports

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2 (2025)

Heliports

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4 (2025)

Merchant marine

total

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2 (2023)

by type

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general cargo 1, other 1

Ports

total ports

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6 (2024)

large

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medium

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small

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very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay, Port Alucroix

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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US Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD); US Virgin Islands National Guard (VING)

Military - note

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defense is the responsibility of the US