Coastal Demographics

The entire population of the U.S. Virgin Islands—106,400 people—lives in coastal portions of the territory.

Coastal Economy

The U.S. Virgin Islands employs over 37,000 people annually, earning a total of almost $1.5 billion.

Natural Hazards

Two billion-dollar weather disasters affected the U.S. Virgin Islands between 2010 and 2018. Hurricanes Irma and Maria both hit the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017. Before making landfall in the Florida Keys as a category 4 hurricane in early September, 2017, Irma devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands as a category 5 storm. Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria struck St. Croix, causing further devastation to the ravaged islands.**

Coastal Resources

U.S. Virgin Islands’ coral reefs provide millions of dollars in protection to buildings and the local economy—over $47 million every year (this includes St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John).***