United States Virgin Islands

Country profile

Temperature anomaly
0.51
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
126th of 193 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
6.10
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
204th of 241 countries
19402025

United States Virgin Islands in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

021950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2024low 1974

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

Temperature anomaly

0.51 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+0.5 °C since 1995126th highest of 193 · 2025
0119401960198020002020Worldhigh 2024low 1974

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Energy

Energy use per person

113,334 kWh/person/year · 2023
-5.2% since 19937th highest of 216 · 2023
0200k400k600k19801990200020102020high 2006low 2013

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

2.94 % of electricity · 2023
+2.9 pp since 200094th highest of 210 · 2023
012320002005201020152020high 2021

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2023
+0.0 pp since 2000110th highest of 207 · 2023
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2023
+0.0 pp since 200085th highest of 207 · 2023
-10120002005201020152020

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

97.1 % of electricity · 2023
-2.9 pp since 200019th highest of 210 · 2023
05010020002005201020152020low 2021

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2023
+0.0 pp since 2000118th highest of 203 · 2023
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

20.6 ha/year · 2024
-83% since 2001160th highest of 197 · 2024
05001k2005201020152020high 2017low 2015

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

59.0 % of land · 2025
+2.3 pp since 199533rd highest of 212 · 2025
02040601990200020102020Worldlow 2010

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.82 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
+0.0% since 1994151st highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

13.3 % of land area · 2024
-1.6 pp since 2013135th highest of 213 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

0.80 % of territorial waters · 2024
+0.4 pp since 2013104th highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

95.4 % living in cities · 2025
+9.9 pp since 199524th highest of 236 · 2025
0501001960198020002020Worldlow 1970

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Safely managed drinking water

98.7 % of population · 2024
+1.3 pp since 200038th highest of 159 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2022

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

910.9 mm/year · 2025
+9.7% since 1995105th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k1.5k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1942low 1967

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

-6.70 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+8.3 pp since 199598th highest of 192 · 2025
05019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1942low 1967

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

6.10 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-3.2% since 1998204th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 1999low 2004

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.