The Virgin Islands is an archipelago in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The islands are divided into two parts, one of which, the British Virgin Islands to the east and north, is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The other, the United States Virgin Islands to the west and south, is an organized unincorporated territory of the United States.

Christopher Columbus named the islands Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (shortened to Las Vírgenes), after Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. They were inhabited by Arawak, Carib and Cermic Indians, all of whom died out during the colonial period from disease, harsh labor conditions, and murder.

The islands were later populated by Africans who were enslaved on sugar plantations, and on at least one indigo plantation. The sugar plantations are now gone, but the descendants of the slaves are still there, sharing a common West Indian culture with the other English-speaking islands of the Caribbean.

On both the British and the U.S. Virgin Islands, vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road, yet most cars on the islands have their steering wheels on the left side (usually common for drive-on-the-right localities). Also on both the British and the U.S. Virgin Islands the United States dollar is the official currency. From the CIA World Factbook 2000.

The islands just to the east of the island of Puerto Rico (and territorially part of it) are locally called the Spanish Virgin Islands. Although often not included on maps of the Virgin Islands archipelago, it is actually closer to St. Thomas than St. Croix is (both part of the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 108,448 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911) 65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 37.7 years male: 36.7 years female: 38.5 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: -0.171% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: -8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.2 years male: 75.4 years female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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

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Ethnic groups: black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

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Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

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Languages: English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA% female: NA% (2005 est.)

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.577 billion (2004 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): NA

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GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2002 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $14,500 (2004 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)

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Labor force: 43,980 (2004 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 6.2% (2004)

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2003)

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Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

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Agriculture - products: fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - production: 980 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 911.4 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 17,110 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 115,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Exports: $4.234 billion (2001)

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Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products

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Exports - partners: US, Puerto Rico (2006)

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Imports: $4.609 billion (2001)

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Imports - commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

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Imports - partners: US, Puerto Rico (2006)

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Debt - external: $NA

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Economic aid - recipient: $NA

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Currency (code): US dollar (USD)

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Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

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Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September