Map of Cayman Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863 they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 260 km²
Land: 260 km²
Comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 160 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
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

Elevation

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

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 29,139 (July 1992), growth rate 4.4% (1992)

Nationality: noun - Caymanian(s; adjective - Caymanian

Ethnic groups: 40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates of various ethnic groups

Languages: English

Religions:

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 16 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1000 population (1992)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: within the Caribbean hurricane belt
Current issues note: important location between Cuba and Central America

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 79 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1992)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: George Town

Administrative divisions:

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

Constitution: 1959, revised 1972

Legal system: British common law and local statutes

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 18
Legislative Assembly: last held November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CARICOM (observer), CDB, IOC
Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK
US: none

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK 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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview:
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $384 million, per capita $14,500 (1989); real growth rate 8% (1990)

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming

Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building materials, furniture making

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA%

Labor force: 8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $83.6 million; expenditures $98.9 million, including capital expenditures of $13.6 million (1990)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.)
Commodoties: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Partners: mostly US

Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 1.20 (fixed rate)


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Electricity
Production: 74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 9,313 kWh per capita (1991)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports:

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine:
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs