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

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total area total: 260 km²
Land: 260 km²
Comparative: 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

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: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


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Population: 33,192 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 4.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Caymanian(s)
Adjective: Caymanian

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

Languages: English

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 4.3% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 14.79 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.1 years
Male: 75.37 years
Female: 78.81 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: George Town

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

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992

Legal system: British common law and local statutes

International law organization participation

Citizenship

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 Michael GORE (since 15 September 1992)
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

International organization participation: CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)

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: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America. 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 1.4% (1991)

Real gdp per capita: $23,000 (1993 est.)

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: NA%

Labor force: 8,061
By occupation serviceworkers: 18.7%
By occupation clerical: 18.6%
By occupation construction: 12.5%
By occupation financeandinvestment: 6.7%
By occupation directorsandbusinessmanagers: 5.9% (1979)

Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

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

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: $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodoties: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Partners: mostly US

Imports: $312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $15 million (1986)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

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


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

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 35,000 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

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: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 321,434 GRT/583,348 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
Note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 6 ships, India 5, Norway 3, US 3, Greece 1, Sweden 1, UAE 1

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe