Virgin Islands (United States)

The Health in the Americas+¹ country profiles are based on the interagency indicators available as of the dates referenced. The sources are referenced in this table. In some cases, the values of the indicators may differ from the most recent data available in the country.

Environmental and social determinants of health

In 2000 the total population of United States Virgin Islands was 108 185 inhabitants; by 2023 this figure had risen to 98 750, representing an 8.7% decrease. Regarding the country’s demographic profile, in 2023 people over 65 years of age accounted for 20.9% of the total population, an increase of 12.5 percentage points compared to the year 2000. In 2023, there were 115.2 women per 100 men and 109.3 older people (65 years or older) per 100 children under 15 years of age, as can be seen in the country’s population pyramids, distributed by age group and sex (Figure 1). Considering the population between 15 and 64 years of age to be potentially active (i.e., potential participants in the labor force), this group represented 60% of the total population of the country in 2023 (59 271 people). When we add these figures to the potentially passive population (18 861 under 15 years of age and 20 619 over 65 years of age), the result is a dependency ratio of 66.6 potentially passive people per 100 potentially active people. This ratio was 53.3 in 2000.
   
Life expectancy at birth in 2023 was 76 years, lower than the average for the Region of the Americas and 3.3 years higher that in 2000.

Figure 1. Population pyramids, years 2000 and 2021

The unemployment rate in 2022 was 12.4%. Disaggregated by sex, the rate was 13.6% for women and 11.4% for men.

Digital coverage

In 2017, 64.4% of the population had an internet connection, representing a considerable increase from 2000, when 13.8% of the population had an internet connection.

Health situation

Maternal and child health

The proportion of low-birth-weight births (<2,500 grams) increased from 9.1% to 9.9% between 2000 and 2016.  In relation to fertility, it is estimated that in 2023 women had an average of 2.1 children throughout their reproductive lives. In the specific case of adolescent fertility, there was a 49.8% decrease, from 57.3 live births per 1000 women aged 15 to 19 years in 2000 to 28.8 in 2023. In 2008, 99.3% of births were attended by skilled birth personnel. Between 2008 and 2015, the percentage of prenatal care coverage with a minimum of 4 consultations, decreased to 91.7% to 50.6%.

Status of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the United States Virgin Islands in 2020, there were a total of 2038 cases of COVID-19, representing 20 380 per million population. In 2021, there were 7 617 identified cases, equivalent to 76 170 per million population. In 2022, there were 13 383 identified cases, equivalent to 133 831 per million population. In 2020, there were 23 deaths directly caused by COVID-19 in people diagnosed with the disease, or 230 deaths per million population; in 2021, 66 deaths are reported, equivalent to 660 deaths per million population. In 2022, 34 deaths directly caused by COVID-19 in people diagnosed with the disease, or 340 per million population. In 2020, United States Virgin Islands ranked 24th in the Region of the Americas in terms of the number of deaths from COVID-19, and 21th in 2022.

On December 31, 2021, 63.7% of the country's population had at least one dose of COVID- 19 vaccine applied. By April 20, 2022 (the latest available data), 59% of the population was fully vaccinated. The vaccination campaign started on February 20, 2021, and so far, 2 types of COVID-19 vaccines have been used in the country.

The sources of the interagency indicators used in this profile can be found in this table.

For the latest data on health indicators for the Region of the Americas, be sure to visit the PAHO Core Indicators portal.