VIRGIN ISLANDS (territory of the US) GEOGRAPHY Total area: 352 km2; land area: 349 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 188 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth); Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf Land use: arable land 15%; permanent crops 6%; meadows and pastures 26%; forest and woodland 6%; other 47% Environment: rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources Note: important location 1,770 km southeast of Miami and 65 km east of Puerto Rico, 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 Population: 99,404 (July 1991), growth rate 0.7% (1991) Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1991) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991) Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991) Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1991) Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 76 years female (1991) Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1991) Nationality: noun--Virgin Islander(s); adjective--Virgin Islander Ethnic divisions: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%; black 80%, white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14% Religion: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Language: English (official), but Spanish and Creole are widely spoken Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) Labor force: 45,500 (1988) Organized labor: 90% of the government labor force GOVERNMENT Long-form name: Virgin Islands of the United States Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior Capital: Charlotte Amalie Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US) Independence: none (territory of the US) Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 serves as the constitution Legal system: based on US National holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to US), 31 March (1917) Executive branch: US president, governor, lieutenant governor Legislative branch: unicameral Senate Judicial branch: US District Court handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases; Territorial Court handles civil matters up to $50,000 small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989), represented by Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE (since 5 January 1987) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Elections: Governor--last held NA 1986 (next to be held NA 1990); results--Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) defeated Adelbert BRYAN (ICM); Senate--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA; US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative Member of: ECLAC (associate), IOC Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US) Flag: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel ECONOMY Overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at Saint Croix. GDP: $1.0 billion, per capita $9,000; real growth rate NA% (1985) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: 2.0% (1990) Budget: revenues $470 million; expenditures $322 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90) Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--refined petroleum products; partners--US, Puerto Rico Imports: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials; partners--US, Puerto Rico External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate 12% Electricity: 358,000 kW capacity; 532 million kWh produced, 5,360 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics Agriculture: truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $34.5 million Currency: US currency is used Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September COMMUNICATIONS Highways: 856 km total Ports: Saint Croix--Christiansted, Frederiksted; Saint Thomas--Long Bay, Crown Bay, Red Hook; Saint John--Cruz Bay Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m; international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix Telecommunications: 44,280 telephones; stations--4 AM, 6 FM, 3 TV; modern system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities; 90,000 radios; 56,000 TVs DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of the US