United States Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands of the United States
Updated
Population
103,792
2025 · World Bank
GDP
$4.67B
2022 · World Bank
GDP per capita
$44,321
2022 · World Bank
Area
347 km²
mledoze/countries reference dataset
Capital
Charlotte Amalie
Median age
44.8 yrs
2025 · UN WPP
Location
- Capital
- Charlotte Amalie
- Region
- Central America and the Caribbean
- Subregion
- Caribbean
- Area
- 347 km²
- Languages
- English
Then and now
The CIA World Factbook stopped updating in January 2026. This is what has changed since its final edition.
| Indicator | Factbook, final edition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 103,7922025 | 103,7922025 | 0.0% |
| GDP (nominal) | $4.67B2022 | $4.67B2022 | 0.0% |
Trends since 2000
World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
6 facts about United States Virgin Islands
- 01 United States Virgin Islands ranks 195 of 238 in population, with 103,792 people as of 2025.
- 02 Its economy produced $4.67B in 2022, or $44,321 per person.
- 03 United States Virgin Islands has no land borders.
- 04 Population has declined 4% since 2000, from 108,642 to 103,792.
- 05 Prices sit at about 89% of United States levels (World Bank PPP data, 2022).
- 06 64% of the population uses the internet (2017).
Reference
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Calling code
- +1340
- Internet TLD
- .vi
- Demonym
- Virgin Islander
- ISO codes
- VI · VIR · 850
The Factbook archive 102 fields · 10 categories
The complete World Factbook entry for Virgin Islands: 102 fields and 135 sub-entries across 10 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition; the live figures above supersede the fast-moving numbers in it. Last CIA update: January 20, 2026.
Introduction 1 field
- 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 17 fields
- 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 kmland: 346 sq kmwater: 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 nmexclusive 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 mlowest 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 21 fields
- Population
- total: 103,792 (2025 est.)male: 49,195female: 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.)
note: 18.4% self-identify as Latino - 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 yearsfemale: 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)/female0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal 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 birthsfemale: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 80.7 years (2024 est.)male: 77.6 yearsfemale: 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 6 fields
- 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 20 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Virgin Islandsformer: Danish West Indiesabbreviation: VIetymology: 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 Amaliegeographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 Wtime 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
note: island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections - 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 Senateelection/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 2022election 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 - Legislative branch
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): 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 termsubordinate 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
Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM
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
- 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: "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 SMITHhistory: official anthem, as a US territory
Economy 20 fields
- 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.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate - 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.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work - 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)
top five export commodities based on value in dollars - 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
- the US dollar is used
Energy 5 fields
- 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 6 fields
- 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 4 fields
- Airports
- 2 (2025)
- Heliports
- 4 (2025)
- Merchant marine
- total: 2 (2023)by type: general cargo 1, other 1
- Ports
- total ports: 6 (2024)large: 0medium: 0small: 3very small: 3ports with oil terminals: 3key ports: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay, Port Alucroix
Military and Security 2 fields
- 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
Frequently asked
- What is the population of United States Virgin Islands in 2025?
- United States Virgin Islands has a population of 103,792 (103,792) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.
- What is the capital of United States Virgin Islands?
- The capital of United States Virgin Islands is Charlotte Amalie.
- How large is the economy of United States Virgin Islands?
- United States Virgin Islands's GDP is $4.67B (2022, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $44,321 per capita.
United States Virgin Islands