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United States Virgin Islands

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Photo: Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view from Los Angeles, USA / Wikimedia Commons (resized) Image licenceCC BY 2.0Photograph by Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view from Los Angeles, USA / Wikimedia Commons (resized). Display crop may differ from the original.

AT A GLANCE

United States Virgin Islands in facts

  • CapitalCharlotte Amalie
  • Population103,7922025
  • Area346 km²twice the size of Washington, D.C
  • CurrencyUnited States dollar
Map: Natural Earth (public domain) · Open in the world map
All geographic & statistical details (34)
Density
300 people per km²
World region
Americas · Latin America and the Caribbean · Caribbean
Government
unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Official language
English
Founded
1917
Time zone
UTC−04:00
Calling code
+1340
Drives on the
left
Land borders
None
Coastline
188 km
Topographic elevation profile
Crown Mountain 473 m
0 mCaribbean Sea▲ 473 mSummit
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
Economy (GDP)
US$4.7 billion (2022)
Land use
Agri 9.4%Forest 58.2%Other 32.4%
GDP per person
US$44,321 (2022)
Natural resources
pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Unemployment
11.4% (2025)
Life expectancy
80.8 years (2024)
Median age
43.4 years (2025 est.)
Administrative subdivisions
3 first-order regions
Urban population
Urban 96.2%Rural 3.8%(2023)
Major urban areas
Charlotte Amalie (capital) (000)
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.)
Religions
Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.)
Railways & airports
2 airports
Mains voltage
110 V
Emergency numbers
911
Internet domain
.vi
ISO & UN codes
VI · VIR · M49 850
Capital location
18.4°N, 65.0°W
Official website
vi.gov (opens in a new tab)
Name origin
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)
Names in other languages
মার্কিন ভার্জিন দ্বীপপুঞ্জ, Amerikanische Jungferninseln, Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos, جزایر ویرجین ایالات متحده, îles Vierges des États-Unis, संयुक्त राज्य वर्जिन द्वीपसमूह
+ 20 moreShow lessKepulauan Virgin Amerika Serikat, Isole Vergini degli Stati Uniti, アメリカ領ヴァージン諸島, 미국령 버진아일랜드, യുനൈറ്റഡ് സ്റ്റേറ്റ്സ് വിർജിൻ ദ്വീപുകൾ, यु.एस. व्हर्जिन द्वीपसमूह, Amerikaanse Maagdeneilanden, ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਵਰਜਿਨ ਟਾਪੂ, Wyspy Dziewicze Stanów Zjednoczonych, Ilhas Virgens Americanas, Американские Виргинские Острова, அமெரிக்க கன்னித் தீவுகள், యునైటెడ్ స్టేట్స్ వర్జిన్ ఐలండ్స్, หมู่เกาะเวอร์จินของสหรัฐอเมริกา, ABD Virjin Adaları, Американські Віргінські Острови, امریکی جزائر ورجن, Quần đảo Virgin thuộc Mỹ, 美屬維爾京群島, جزر العذراء الولايات المتحدة

Maritime & nearby neighbours (2 places)

Neighbours from Wikidata (land borders and some sea borders; only places with a page here).

Facts: Wikidata Q11703, World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0: population, economy, life expectancy) and the CIA World Factbook (public domain: geography, demographics, borders, coastline and symbols), retrieved 1 November 2026. Figures can change; check the source for the latest.

FLAG & SYMBOLS

The flag and symbols of United States Virgin Islands

The flag

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.

What it means

White is a symbol of purity, and the letters stand for the Virgin Islands.

Coat of arms
Coat of arms or emblem of United States Virgin Islands

Image: Benedikt Thorolfsson (Versions 1-4) / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Motto
“United in Pride and Hope”
National anthem

"The Star-Spangled Banner"
Francis Scott Key/John Stafford Smith

Recording: Wikimedia Commons contributor / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

National day

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)

Independence

none (territory of the US)

Flag description and meaning, colours, symbols, anthem details, national day and independence: CIA World Factbook (public domain). Coat of arms, motto and recording: Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons (credited above). Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), retrieved 1 November 2026.

There is more to explore.Discover the regions of United States Virgin IslandsExplore regions
ON THE ATLAS · CHRONICLE IN PREPARATION

Discover United States Virgin Islands

This is a sourced directory entry. A researched regional chronicle and verified location photography are in preparation.

US territory

US territorial association: United States. Status & relationship source ↗

A CLOSER LOOK

Explore the regions

3 entries

Explore the first-order regions in this GeoNames snapshot. Local names and levels vary.

  • Illustration: The Landlore · AI-generated, imagined landscape (not this place).
    United States Virgin Islands · CaribbeanDistrict

    Saint Croix Island

    • Population50,601
    • CountryUnited States Virgin Islands
    Explore this place
  • Illustration: The Landlore · AI-generated, imagined landscape (not this place).
    United States Virgin Islands · CaribbeanCensus district

    Saint John Island

    • Population4,170
    • CountryUnited States Virgin Islands
    Explore this place
  • Illustration: The Landlore · AI-generated, imagined landscape (not this place).
    United States Virgin Islands · CaribbeanCensus district

    Saint Thomas Island

    • Population51,634
    • Area83 km²
    • Density623/km²
    Explore this place
  • Illustration: The Landlore · An independent cultural & geographic atlas.
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Names and immediate parent assignments: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0, 28 October 2026. Unspecified code 00 excluded. This is not an exhaustive list of districts, counties or municipalities. Photographs are credited individually beneath each image; one pictured place does not represent every landscape in its region.

FROM THE JOURNAL

Stories from United States Virgin Islands

Our editorial journey here is still ahead. No researched stories have been published for this place yet.

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Directory: UN M49 countries or areas, with 193 UN members, 2 observers and 53 other areas. Subdivisions: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0; filtered to this catalogue. Flags/symbols: flag-icons (MIT). Snapshot: 28 October 2026. Geographic groups are statistical. Associated-country links describe the cited relationship and do not settle sovereignty claims.

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