Cayman Islands

(Dependent territory of the U.K.)

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Area

Total area: 260 sq km
Land area: 260 sq km
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

160 km

Maritime Claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

None

Climate

Tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain

Low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Natural Resources

Fish
Climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land Use

Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 8%
Forest and woodland: 23%
Other: 69%

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
International agreements: NA

Note: Important location between Cuba and Central America

PEOPLE

Population

34,646 (July 1996 est.)
33,192 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

4.27% (1996 est.)
4.3% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

14.52 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
14.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net Migration Rate

33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Infant Mortality Rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 77.1 years
Male: 75.37 years
Female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.4 children born/woman (1996 est.)
1.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Caymanian(s)
Adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic Divisions

Mixed 40%
White 20%
Black 20%
Expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Religions

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

Languages

English

Literacy

Age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)

Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%

Labor Force

8,061

By occupation:

Service workers 18.7%
Clerical 18.6%
Construction 12.5%
Finance and investment 6.7%
Directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Cayman Islands (Pronunciation)

Digraph

Type

Dependent territory of the U.K.

Capital

George Town

Administrative Divisions

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Independence

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

National Holiday

Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

Constitution

1959, revised 1972 and 1992

Legal System

British common law and local statutes

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
Cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members are appointed by the governor, 4 members elected by the Legislative Assembly

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Legislative Assembly

Election last held November 1992 (next to be held November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)

Judicial Branch

Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political Parties and Leaders

No formal political parties

Member of

CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC

National Anthem

Anthem english text

Flag

Blue, with the flag of the U.K. in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

ECONOMY

Overview

With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $750 million (1994 est.); $700 million (1993 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

4.5% (1994 est.)
1.4% (1991)

National Product Per Capita

$22,500 (1994 est.)
$23,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

1.8% (1995 est.)
2.5% (1993 est.)

Unemployment Rate

7% (1992)

Budget

Revenues: $141.5 million
Expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1991)

Exports

$10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Turtle products
Manufactured consumer goods

Partners:

Mostly U.S.

Imports

$312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Foodstuffs
Manufactured goods

Partners:

External Debt

$15 million (1986)

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 80,000 kW
Production: 230 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)

Industries

Tourism
Banking
Insurance and finance
Construction
Building materials
Furniture making

Agriculture

Minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming

Illicit Drugs

A major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the U.S. and Europe

Economic Aid

Recipient: U.S. commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $35 million

Currency

1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 406 km
Paved: 304 km
Unpaved: 102 km

Ports

Cayman Brac, George Town

Merchant Marine

Total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4

Note: A flag of convenience registry; U.K. owns 1 ship, India 1, Norway 1, U.S. 3, Sweden 1 and UAE 1 (1995 est.)

Airports

Total: 3
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

21,584 telephones (1993 est.)

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.K.

History
World Atlas

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