🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands is an unincorporated US territory of 87,000 people across three main islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John) with a GDP of about $4 billion. The territory was purchased from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million (about $600 million in today's money). St. John is about 60% national park, making it one of the most protected islands in the Caribbean. Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas is one of the busiest cruise ship ports in the Caribbean. The territory has struggled economically — hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 caused over $10 billion in damage, and the population has declined by about 20% since 2000.

Tourism (about 60% of GDP), rum production (Cruzan Rum on St. Croix), and the Limetree Bay oil refinery (currently shut down) are the main economic activities. The territory receives significant federal transfers. Residents are US citizens but can't vote in presidential elections. The USVI has a generous Economic Development Commission program offering tax incentives that have attracted some financial services firms. The US dollar is the currency.

St. John's Trunk Bay is consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches and has an underwater snorkeling trail. The territory's Buck Island Reef National Monument was the first underwater national monument in the US. The USVI produces more rum per capita than anywhere in the US — the federal government returns rum excise taxes to the territory, providing significant revenue.

The USVI's population decline and hurricane vulnerability are serious challenges. The territory needs sustained federal investment in infrastructure and resilience. The natural beauty is world-class, but the economic model is fragile.