Overview
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
- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
- Total Area
- 1,910 sq km
- 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
- Natural Resources
- pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
- Coastline
- 188 km
- Land Borders
- 0 km
People & Society
- Population
- 103,792 (2025 est.)
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Life Expectancy
- 80.7 years (2024 est.)
- Urbanization
- 96.2% of total population (2023)
Government
- Government Type
- unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
- Capital
- Charlotte Amalie
- Independence
- none (territory of the US)
- Constitution
- 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory
- Legal System
- US common law
- Executive Branch
- President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Economy
- 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
- GDP (Official Rate)
- $4.672 billion (2022 est.)
- Major Industries
- tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics