World Factbook
United States Virgin Islands
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
346 sq km
water
1,564 sq km
total
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
Land use
other
32.4% (2023 est.)
forest
58.2% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Coastline
188 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Crown Mountain 474 m
Irrigated land
1 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
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
Natural resources
pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Area - comparative
twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
18 20 N, 64 50 W
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