Country Profile: Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States, is located in the Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico. This subtropical paradise consists of three main islands: Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix, with a total land area of 346 sq km and a population of approximately 104,377 as of 2024. The economy is heavily reliant on tourism, with a recent history marked by challenges such as severe hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted economic stability. Governance is characterized by a republican form of territorial government, providing local self-government under the auspices of the U.S.

Geography

The Virgin Islands are situated between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, with a total area of 1,910 sq km, predominantly covered by water. The islands feature a hilly terrain, with their highest point being Crown Mountain at 474 meters. The climate is subtropical, moderated by trade winds, resulting in low humidity and minimal seasonal temperature variation.

1,910 sq km: Total area
188 km: Coastline
12 nm: Territorial sea claim
200 nm: Exclusive economic zone
57.7% (2022): Forest cover

People and Society

The population of the Virgin Islands is approximately 104,377, with a demographic makeup predominantly of African-American or African descent (71.4%). English is the primary language, spoken by 71.6% of the population, while Spanish and French Creole also have significant numbers of speakers. The majority of residents (65.5%) identify as Protestant.

43 years: Median age (2024 est.)
96.2%: Urban population (2023)
11.1 births/1,000: Birth rate (2024 est.)
80.7 years: Life expectancy (2024 est.)
0.9 male(s)/female: Overall sex ratio (2024 est.)

Economy

The Virgin Islands boast a high-income economy primarily driven by tourism, contributing to a GDP of approximately $4.9 billion as of 2022. Notably, the territory also hosts a major rum distillery and has a high level of public debt resulting from previous economic disruptions, including the pandemic and various hurricanes.

$46,500: GDP per capita (2022 est.)
12.1%: Unemployment rate (2024 est.)
$4.549 billion: Exports (2022 est.)
$5.058 billion: Imports (2022 est.)
68.9%: Household consumption of GDP (2022 est.)

Government

As an unincorporated organized territory of the U.S., the Virgin Islands have local self-governance with an elected governor and a legislative assembly. The capital, Charlotte Amalie, is named in honor of a Danish queen and serves as the political and economic center.

18 years: Voting age
Governor Albert Bryan, Jr.: In office since January 7, 2019
Next election: November 2026
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (1954)
National holiday: Transfer Day (March 31, 1917)

Military and Security

The security of the Virgin Islands is primarily managed by the U.S., with the Virgin Islands Police Department responsible for local law enforcement. The Virgin Islands National Guard also contributes to local security efforts.

US Virgin Islands National Guard: Active presence
Defense responsibility: U.S. federal government

Energy

The territory has achieved full electrification, with a total installed generation capacity of 326,000 kW as of 2023. The energy generation is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, comprising 97.2% of the installed capacity.

100%: Electrification (2022 est.)
618.819 million kWh: Electricity consumption (2023 est.)
2.8%: Solar energy contribution to generating capacity (2023 est.)
16,000 bbl/day: Refined petroleum consumption (2023 est.)
2.378 million metric tonnes: CO2 emissions (2023 est.)

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure includes two airports and a network of small ports catering primarily to tourism. The Virgin Islands have a total of six ports, which facilitate both passenger and cargo transport.

2: Airports (2025)
6: Total ports (2024)
4: Heliports (2025)
3: Ports with oil terminals (2024)

Communications

The Virgin Islands have a well-developed communication system with a mixture of fixed and mobile telephony. Accessibility to the internet is also considerable, with approximately 64% of the population using it as of 2017.

76,000: Fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2021 est.)
80,000: Mobile cellular subscriptions (2021 est.)
9,000: Broadband fixed subscriptions (2022 est.)
24: Radio stations available

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	104,377 (2024 est.)
Area	1,910 sq km
GDP	$4.9 billion (2022)	Purchasing power parity
Energy Consumption	618.819 million kWh	(2023 est.)
Birth Rate	11.1 births/1,000 population	(2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	12.1% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	80.7 years	(2024 est.)
Median Age	43 years	(2024 est.)
Urban Population	96.2%	(2023)
Electric Access	100%	(2022 est.)