This Virgin Island Disability Status Report provides policy makers, disability advocates, reporters, and the public with a summary of the most recent demographic and economic statistics on the civilian household population with disabilities. It contains information on the population size and disability prevalence for various demographic subpopulations, as well as statistics related to employment, poverty, and veterans' service-connected disabilities. Selected statistics including overall disability prevalence by age, employment, and poverty rates are also provided by island. Comparisons are made to people without disabilities and across disability types when possible.
The information in this report is based on the Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census, the most recent U.S. Census Bureau survey that includes questions regarding disability. Due to COVID-19 restrictions that impacted data collection for the U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Census, the data tables reporting social and economic characteristics are limited to only the civilian household population and do not include the group quarters population1 that was included in the 2010 tables. Because of this difference, the Census Bureau states that the 2020 estimates should not be compared to those from 2010.
This U.S. Virgin Islands Disability Status Report can be downloaded for free on www.disabilitystatistics.org.
You can also access other Disability Status Reports and statistics for the United States overall, each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, based on the Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey (ACS) at www.disabilitystatistics.org
1 Non-institutionalized group quarters include college/university student housing and military quarters and other non-institutionalized facilities.
All data provided in this report is based on tables downloaded from the U.S. Census Bureau website: data.census.gov.
The specific table IDs relevant for each topic area tale and charts are provided at the bottom of each section.
2020 U.S. Virgin Islands SF, Adapted from tables: DP2, PBG25, PBG26, PBG27, PBG28, PCT37, PCT38, PCT39, PCT40, PCT41, PCT42; generated by William Erickson; Tables downloaded from the US Census Bureau website; <http://data.census.gov>; (October 2023).
Erickson, W. (2023). 2020 Disability Status Report: U.S. Virgin Islands. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Yang Tan Institute on Employment and Disability (YTI).
We would like to thank Lauren Kessler for her assistance with the production of this document.
There is no single accepted definition of disability. Different definitions and disability questions may identify different populations with disabilities and result in larger or smaller estimates.
Below are the six questions used in the Virgin Islands Decennial Census 2020 to identify persons with disabilities. Note that the Census Bureau refers to each of the individual types as "difficulty" while in this report the term "disability" is used.
These statistics indicate the social and economic status of the civilian population living in households with disabilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands using data from the 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.*
Age: In 2020, the prevalence of disability in the U.S. Virgin Islands was:
Disability Type: In 2020, the prevalence of the six disability types among persons of all ages in the U.S. Virgin Islands was:
Gender: In 2020, 13.5 percent of females of all ages and 11.3 percent of males of all ages in the U.S. Virgin Islands reported a disability.
Employment: In 2020, the employment rate of working-age people (ages 18 to 64) with disabilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands was 42.7 percent overall. Employment rates by island:
Poverty: In the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2020, the poverty rate of working-age people with disabilities was 28.5 percent.
Educational Attainment: In 2020, the percentage of working-age people with disabilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands:
Veterans Service-Connected Disability: In 2020, the percentage of civilian veterans ages 18 and older with a VA determined service-connected disability was 15.7 percent in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
*Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census tables: DP2, PBG25, PBG26, PBG27, PGB28, PCT37, PCT38, PCT39, PCT40, PCT41, PCT42, PCT43. See introduction for data source note.
This section addresses the prevalence of disability among the civilian population living in households of all ages in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Disability Type | Percent | Number | Base Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any Disability | 12.4% | 10,522 | 84,630 |
| Visual | 4.4% | 3,711 | 84,630 |
| Hearing | 3.1% | 2,648 | 84,630 |
| Ambulatory | 6.7% | 5,364 | 80,169 |
| Cognitive | 3.4% | 2,740 | 80,169 |
| Self-Care | 2.2% | 1,753 | 80,169 |
| Independent Living | 4.7% | 3,166 | 67,590 |
Note: Children under the age of five were only asked about Vision and Hearing disabilities. The Independent Living disability only includes persons ages 18 years old and older.
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census tables: DP2, PCT37, PCT38, PCT39, PCT40, PCT41, and PCT42 See introduction for data source note.
This section addresses the prevalence of disability among the civilian population living in households in the U.S. Virgin Islands by age and island using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Location | Age | Percent | Number | Base Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Virgin Islands | All Ages | 12.4% | 10,522 | 84,630 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | <18 | 2.2% | 382 | 17,040 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 18-64 | 8.7% | 4,295 | 49,193 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 65+ | 31.8% | 5,845 | 18,397 |
| St. Croix | All Ages | 13.9% | 5,452 | 39,263 |
| St. Croix | <18 | 2.8% | 240 | 8,559 |
| St. Croix | 18-64 | 10.1% | 2,210 | 21,806 |
| St. Croix | 65+ | 33.7% | 3,002 | 8,898 |
| St. John | All Ages | 8.0% | 308 | 3,855 |
| St. John | <18 | 0.7% | 4 | 581 |
| St. John | 18-64 | 6.2% | 157 | 2,526 |
| St. John | 65+ | 19.7% | 147 | 748 |
| St. Thomas | All Ages | 11.5% | 4,762 | 41,512 |
| St. Thomas | <18 | 1.7% | 138 | 7,900 |
| St. Thomas | 18-64 | 7.8% | 1,928 | 24,861 |
| St. Thomas | 65+ | 30.8% | 2,696 | 8,751 |
Note: Children under the age of five were only asked about Vision and Hearing disabilities. The Independent Living disability only includes persons ages 18 years old and older.
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census table: DP2. See introduction for data source note.
This section focuses on the prevalence of disability among children ages 17 and under living in households in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Disability Type | Percent | Number | Base Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any Disability | 2.2% | 382 | 17,040 |
| Visual | 0.9% | 150 | 17,040 |
| Hearing | 0.5% | 82 | 17,040 |
| Ambulatory | 0.4% | 46 | 12,579 |
| Cognitive | 1.3% | 164 | 12,579 |
| Self-Care | 0.3 | 44 | 12,579 |
Note: Children under the age of five were only asked about Vision and Hearing disabilities.
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census tables: DP2, PCT37, PCT38, PCT39, PCT40, PCT41, and PCT42. See introduction for data source note.
This section focuses on the prevalence of disability among the working-age (ages 18 to 64) civilian population living in households in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Disability Type | Percent | Number | Base Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any Disability | 8.7% | 4,295 | 49,193 |
| Visual | 3.3% | 1,607 | 49,193 |
| Hearing | 1.6% | 796 | 49,193 |
| Ambulatory | 3.7% | 1,836 | 49,193 |
| Cognitive | 2.2% | 1,103 | 49,193 |
| Self-Care | 1.1% | 535 | 49,193 |
| Independent Living | 2.1% | 1,021 | 49,193 |
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census tables: DP2, PCT37, PCT38, PCT39, PCT40, PCT41, and PCT42. See introduction for data source note.
This section focuses on the prevalence of disability among the civilian population living in households ages 65 and older in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Disability Type | Percent | Number | Base Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any Disability | 31.8% | 5,845 | 18,397 |
| Visual | 10.6% | 1,954 | 18,397 |
| Hearing | 9.6% | 1,770 | 18,397 |
| Ambulatory | 18.9% | 3,482 | 18,397 |
| Cognitive | 8.0% | 1,473 | 18,397 |
| Self-Care | 6.4% | 1,174 | 18,397 |
| Independent Living | 11.7% | 2,145 | 18,397 |
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census tables: DP2, PCT37, PCT38, PCT39, PCT40, PCT41, and PCT42. See introduction for data source note.
This section examines the prevalence of disability among the civilian population living in households by gender and age group in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Gender & Age | Percent | Number | Base Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | ||||||
| Males: All Ages | 11.3% | 4,556 | 40,369 | |||
| Males: Under 5 years | 0.9% | 22 | 2,351 | |||
| Males: 5 to 17 years | 3.1% | 199 | 6,473 | |||
| Males: 18 to 64 years | 8.1% | 1,888 | 23,216 | |||
| Males: 65 to 74 years | 22.0% | 1,114 | 5,073 | |||
| Males: 75 years and over | 40.9% | 1,333 | 3,256 | |||
| Females | ||||||
| Females: All Ages | 13.5% | 5,966 | 44,261 | |||
| Females: Under 5 years | 0.5% | 10 | 2,110 | |||
| Females: 5 to 17 years | 2.5% | 151 | 6,106 | |||
| Females: 18 to 64 years | 9.3% | 2,407 | 25,977 | |||
| Females: 65 to 74 years | 24.1% | 1,408 | 5,843 | |||
| Females: 75 years and over | 47.1% | 1,990 | 4,225 | |||
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census table: PBG26. See introduction for data source note.
This section examines the employment rates of the civilian working-age (ages 18 to 64) population living in households with disabilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Disability Type | Percent | Number | Base Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Disability | 67.3% | 30,218 | 44,898 |
| Any Disability | 42.7% | 1,835 | 4,295 |
| Visual | 49.5% | 795 | 1,607 |
| Hearing | 52.4% | 417 | 796 |
| Ambulatory | 32.1% | 590 | 1,836 |
| Cognitive | 30.4% | 335 | 1,103 |
| Self-Care | 19.8% | 106 | 535 |
| Independent Living | 19.3% | 197 | 1,021 |
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census tables: PBG27, PCT37, PCT38, PCT39, PCT40, PCT41, and PCT42. See introduction for data source note.
This section examines the employment rates of the civilian working-age population (ages 18 to 64) in households with disabilities by each island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Disability Status & Island | Percent | Number | Base Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Disability | ||||||
| Any Disability: U.S. Virgin Islands | 42.7% | 1,835 | 4,295 | |||
| Any Disability: St. Croix | 41.2% | 910 | 2,210 | |||
| Any Disability: St. John | 49.7% | 78 | 157 | |||
| Any Disability: St. Thomas | 43.9% | 847 | 1,928 | |||
| No Disability | ||||||
| No Disability: U.S. Virgin Islands | 67.3% | 30,218 | 44,898 | |||
| No Disability: St. Croix | 66.1% | 12,950 | 19,596 | |||
| No Disability: St. John | 70.5% | 1,669 | 2,369 | |||
| No Disability: St. Thomas | 68.0% | 15,599 | 22,933 | |||
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census tables: PBG27. See introduction for data source note.
This section examines the poverty rates of the civilian working-age (ages 20 to 64) population living in households with disabilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2019, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Disability Status & Island | Percent | Number | Base Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Disability | ||||||
| Any Disability: U.S. Virgin Islands | 28.5% | 1,206 | 4,228 | |||
| Any Disability: St. Croix | 30.7% | 665 | 2,168 | |||
| Any Disability: St. John | 24.4% | 38 | 156 | |||
| Any Disability: St. Thomas | 26.4% | 503 | 1,904 | |||
| No Disability | ||||||
| No Disability: U.S. Virgin Islands | 17.9% | 7,778 | 43,446 | |||
| No Disability: St. Croix | 18.9% | 3,576 | 18,947 | |||
| No Disability: St. John | 16.0% | 369 | 2,307 | |||
| No Disability: St. Thomas | 17.3% | 3,833 | 22,192 | |||
Note: Poverty rate is calculated based on an individual's household income in the previous year. The Census Bureau does not calculate poverty status for those people living in military group quarters or college dormitories.
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census table: PCT43. See introduction for data source note.
This section explores the educational attainment of the civilian population living in households ages 25 and older with disabilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Virgin Islands Decennial Census.* For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Educational Attainment | Percent | Number | Base Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Attainment: Any Disability | ||||||
| Any Disability: Less than high school graduate | 33.8% | 3,345 | 9,911 | |||
| Any Disability: High school graduate or equivalent | 35.6% | 3,530 | 9,911 | |||
| Any Disability: Some college or associate degree | 15.1% | 1,495 | 9,911 | |||
| Any Disability: Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 1,541 | 9,911 | |||
| Educational Attainment: No Disability | ||||||
| No Disability: Less than high school graduate | 19.5% | 10,172 | 52,092 | |||
| No Disability: High school graduate or equivalent | 39.5% | 20,563 | 52,092 | |||
| No Disability: Some college or associate degree | 17.6% | 9,152 | 52,092 | |||
| No Disability: Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 12,205 | 52,092 | |||
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census table: PBG28. See introduction for data source note.
This section presents the percentage of civilian veterans ages 18 and older in households reporting a service-connected disability rating in the U.S. Virgin Islands.* The 2020 Decennial Census survey asks if the veteran has a service-connected disability, and if so, what their rating is (0-100%). A "service-connected" disability is one that has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as being a result of disease or injury incurred or aggravated during military service. Note that a veteran can receive disability compensation for a wide range of conditions, and a veteran with a service-connected disability might not report having one of the other six disabilities included in the rest of this report. For definitions of terms, see Glossary.
| Veterans Service-Connected Disability Rating | Percent | Number | Base Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Has a service-connected disability rating (0-100%) | 15.7% | 519 | 3,302 | |||
| Disability rating of veterans with a service-connected disability | ||||||
| 0 percent | 6.7% | 35 | 519 | |||
| 10 or 20 percent | 22.7% | 118 | 519 | |||
| 30 or 40 percent | 15.4% | 80 | 519 | |||
| 50 or 60 percent | 13.7% | 71 | 519 | |||
| 70 percent or higher | 33.1% | 172 | 519 | |||
| Rating not reported | 8.3% | 43 | 519 | |||
* Adapted from data.census.gov U.S. Virgin Islands 2020 Decennial Census table: PBG25. See introduction for data source note.
This disability type is based on the question (asked of persons ages 5 or older): Does this person have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?
The estimated number of individuals upon which the calculation is based. (For percentages, this is the denominator).
This disability type is based on the question (asked of persons ages 5 or older): Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
Our definition is based on the responses to the question: "What is the highest degree or level of school this person has completed? If currently enrolled, mark the previous grade or highest degree received." Our category "high school diploma/equivalent" includes those marking the ACS option "Regular high school diploma — GED or alternative credential." Our category "Some college/associate degree" includes those marking the ACS options: some college credit, but less than 1 year of college credit; one or more years of college credit but no degree, or "associate degree (for example: AA, AS)." Our category "a Bachelor's or more" includes those marking the ACS options: "Bachelor's degree (for example: BA, BS)"; "Master's degree (for example: MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW, MBA)"; "Professional degree (for example: MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)"; or "Doctorate degree (for example: PhD, EdD)." Note in 2008 changes were made to some of the response categories and the layout of this question.
A person is considered employed if he or she is either:
This disability type is based on the question (asked of all ages): Is this person deaf or does he/she have serious difficulty hearing?
This disability type is based on the question (asked of persons ages 15 or older): Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping?
Includes facilities for people under formally authorized, supervised care or custody at the time of enumeration. Generally, restricted to the institution, under the care or supervision of trained staff, and classified as "patients" or "inmates." Includes: correctional, nursing, and in-patient hospice facilities, psychiatric hospitals, juvenile group homes and residential treatment centers.
Includes facilities that are not classified as institutional group quarters; such as college/university housing, group homes intended for adults, residential treatment facilities for adults, workers' group living quarters and Job Corps centers and religious group quarters.
A person is defined as not working but actively looking for work if he or she reports not being employed, but has been looking for work during the last four weeks.
This term appears in the tables; it refers to estimated number of people in the category. (for percentages, this is the numerator).
The poverty measure is computed based upon the standards defined in Directive 14 from the Office of Management and Budget. These standards use poverty thresholds created in 1982 and index these thresholds to 2008 dollars using poverty factors based upon the Consumer Price Index. They use the family as the income sharing unit and family income is the sum of total income from each family member living in the household. The poverty threshold depends upon the size of the family; the age of the householder; and the number of related children under the age of 18.
This disability type is based on the question (asked of persons ages 5 or older): 17c. Does this person have difficulty dressing or bathing?
A disease or injury determined to have occurred in or to have been aggravated by military service. A disability is evaluated according to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities in Title 38, CFR, and Part 4. Extent of disability is expressed as a percentage from 0% (for conditions that exist but are not disabling to a compensable degree) to 100%, in increments of 10%. This information was determined by the following two part question:
This disability type is based on the question:(asked of all ages): Is this person blind or does he/she have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
The contents of this the Virgin Islands Disability Status Report were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DP0003). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this report do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
The Cornell University Disability Status Report series originated as a product of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics (StatsRRTC) funded to the Employment and Disability Institute in the ILR School at Cornell University by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (grant No. H133B031111).
Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853
Phone: 607.255.7727
Email: disabilitystatistics@cornell.edu
Web: www.disabilitystatistics.org