United States Virgin Islands: Flag and Facts
The United States Virgin Islands flag is white with a yellow eagle, taken from an adapted American coat of arms, sitting in the middle, placed between a large blue V and a large blue I.
- Official name
- Virgin Islands of the United States
- Capital
- Charlotte Amalie
- Region
- Caribbean
- Population
- 103,792 (2025)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- United States dollar
- Area
- 347 km² (134 sq mi)
- People
- Virgin Islander
- Calling code
- +1340
- Highest point
- Crown Mountain 474 m
- Independence
- none (territory of the US)
- Borders
- No land borders
- Status
- Territory (not a sovereign country)
About United States Virgin Islands
Denmark took control of Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas between the 17th century and the early part of the 18th. Sugarcane grown by enslaved Africans drove the economy through the 18th and early 19th centuries. After slavery ended in 1848, the islands slipped into economic decline, and in 1917 the US bought them. Transfer Day on 31 March still marks the handover.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma tore through Saint Thomas and Saint John, and Hurricane Maria followed within two weeks, slamming Saint Croix with strong winds and flooding. The islands are hilly to mountainous with little flat ground, and trade winds keep the humidity fairly low. About 103,792 people live on 347 square kilometers, and around 52,000 are in Charlotte Amalie, the capital.
Did you know?
- Crown Mountain is the highest point at 474 meters.
- The rainy season runs from September to November.
- The median age in the territory is 43.4 years.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about United States Virgin Islands
What do the letters on the US Virgin Islands flag mean?
The V and I stand for Virgin Islands. The white field symbolizes purity.
Are the US Virgin Islands part of the United States?
They are a US territory with their own local government, not an independent country.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.