Virgin Islands

188 km

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

1 sq km (2012)

total: 0 km

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

Central America and the Caribbean

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land

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.)

0.95 (2025 est.)

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

total population: 80.7 years (2024 est.) male: 77.6 years female: 84.1 years

52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)

total: 43.4 years (2025 est.) male: 42.1 years female: 43.9 years

noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander

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

overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix

breakdown

{"male":{"value":49195,"unit":"people","formatted":"49,195","name":"Male Population"},"female":{"value":54597,"unit":"people","formatted":"54,597","name":"Female Population"}}

meta

{"year":2025}

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.)

1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)

2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

agricultural land: 9.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.) forest: 58.2% (2023 est.) other: 32.4% (2023 est.)

urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 146,500 tons (2024 est.)

no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 islands are considered second-order: Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas

name

Charlotte Amalie

geo

{"lat":18.35,"lng":-64.9333}

timezone

{"difference":"UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)","note":null,"dst":null}

meta

{}

see United States

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

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)

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

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: 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: November 2026

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

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

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

US common law

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

title: "Virgin Islands March" lyrics/music: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr. history: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem _____ title: "The Star-Spangled Banner" lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH history: official anthem, as a US territory

Democratic Party Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM Republican Party

18 years of age; universal note: island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

revenues: $1.496 billion (2016 est.) expenditures: $1.518 billion (2016 est.)

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

the US dollar is used

47,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

-1.3% (2022 est.) 3.7% (2021 est.) -1.6% (2020 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$4.9 billion (2022 est.) $4.965 billion (2021 est.) $4.789 billion (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

12.1% (2024 est.) 12.4% (2023 est.) 13.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

25.3% (2024 est.)

exports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 618.819 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 50.181 million kWh (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

10 (2022 est.)

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

.vi

percent of population: 64% (2017 est.)

total subscriptions: 79,100 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2022 est.)

2 (2025)

4 (2025)

total: 2 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 1

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

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

defense is the responsibility of the US