cover image

United States Virgin Islands

Territory of the United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:

Can you list the top facts and stats about United States Virgin Islands?

Summarize this article for a 10 years old

SHOW ALL QUESTIONS

The United States Virgin Islands,[note 2] officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States.[7] The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.[8]

Quick facts: Virgin Islands of the United States, Country,...
Virgin Islands of the United States
Motto: 
"United in Pride and Hope"
Anthem: "Virgin Islands March"
Location of the United States Virgin Islands
Location of the United States Virgin Islands
CountryFlag_of_the_United_States.svg United States[note 1]
Before purchaseDanish West Indies
Transfer from DenmarkMarch 31, 1917
Capital
and largest city
Charlotte Amalie
18°21′N 64°56′W
Official languagesEnglish
Ethnic groups
(2020)[1]
By race
By ethnicity
Religion
(2010)[2]
Demonym(s)Virgin Islander
GovernmentDevolved presidential constitutional dependency
 President
Joe Biden (D)
Kamala Harris (D)
 Governor
Albert Bryan (D)
Tregenza Roach (D)
LegislatureLegislature of the Virgin Islands
United States Congress
Stacey Plaskett (D)
Area
 Total
346.4 km2 (133.7 sq mi) (168th)
 Water (%)
negligible
Highest elevation
474 m (1,555 ft)
Population
 2023 census
100,641[3]
 Density
653.6/sq mi (252.4/km2)
GDP (PPP)2019 estimate
 Per capita
$38,136[4]
GDP (nominal)2019 estimate
 Total
US$4.068 billion[5]
HDI (2019)Increase 0.892[6]
very high · 31st
CurrencyUnited States dollar (US$) (USD)
Time zoneUTC−4:00 (AST)
Date formatmm/dd/yyyy
Driving sideleft
Calling code+1340
USPS abbreviation
VI
Trad. abbreviation
U.S.V.I.
ISO 3166 code
Internet TLD.vi
Close

The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas and 50 other surrounding minor islands and cays.[9] The total land area of the territory is 133.73 square miles (346.36 km2).[7] The territory's capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas.

Previously known as the Danish West Indies of the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway (from 1754 to 1814) and the independent Kingdom of Denmark (from 1814 to 1917), they were sold to the United States by Denmark for $25,000,000 in the 1917 Treaty of the Danish West Indies[7] and have since been an organized, unincorporated United States territory. The U.S. Virgin Islands are organized under the 1954 Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands and have since held five constitutional conventions. As with other territories in the United States, the Virgin Islands elects a delegate who can participate in debates in the House of Representatives but cannot vote.[10]

Tourism and related categories are the primary economic activities.[7]