Statistical information Turks and Caicos Islands 1990

Turks and Caicos Islands in the World
top of pageBackground: The islands were under Jamaican jurisdiction until 1962 when they assumed the status of a crown colony. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982 the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claimsClimate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
ElevationNatural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use: 2% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 98% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is the responsibility of the UK
top of pagePopulation: 9,761 (July 1990), growth rate 2.3% (1990)
Nationality: no noun or adjectival forms
Ethnic groups: majority of African descent
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Church of God, Seventh-Day Adventist
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 25 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 5 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: 30 islands (eight inhabited; subject to frequent hurricanes
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 99% (est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, and a Constitutional Commission is currently reviewing its contents
Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Michael J. BRADLEY (since 1987; Head of Government--Chief Minister Oswald O. SKIPPINGS (since 3 March 1988)
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationIn the us: as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of the Turks and Caicos Islands are represented in the US by the UK; US--none
Flag description
: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and offshore banking. Subsistence farming--corn and beans--exists only on the Caicos Islands, so that most foods, as well as nonfood products, must be imported.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: subsistence farming prevails, based on corn and beans; fishing more important than farming; not self-sufficient in food
Industries: fishing, tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: NA; majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture
Unemployment rate: 12% (1989)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $12.4 million; expenditures $15.8 million, including capital expenditures of $2.6 million (FY87)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $2.9 million (f.o.b., FY84)
Commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Partners: US, UK
Imports: $26.3 million (c.i.f., FY84)
Commodities: foodstuffs, drink, tobacco, clothing
Partners: US, UK
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: US currency is used
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 9,050 kW capacity; 11 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 7 total, 7 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs