Map of Cayman Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | 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

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
Extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 8%
Forests and woodland: 23%
Other: 69%

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Caymanian(s)
Adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groups:

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:

Birth rate:

Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
Note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US Infant Mortality Rate:8.4 deaths/1000 live births (1996 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)
International agreements: NA
International agreements note: Important location between Cuba and Central America

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.1 years
Male: 75.37 years
Female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate:

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
Definition: 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 U.K.

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 U.K.)

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 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

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

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: 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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita ppp

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:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: 8,061
By occupation Service workers: 18.7%
By occupation Clerical: 18.6%
By occupation Construction: 12.5%
By occupation Finance and investment: 6.7%
By occupation Directors and business managers: 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)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April_31 March

Current account balance

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: total value. $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities:
Partners: Mostly U.S.

Imports: total value:$312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
Commodities:
Partners:

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 access

Electricity production: 230 million kWh

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: 21,584 telephones (1993 est.)
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

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
15-24 to 2437 m: 2
914 to 1523 m: 1

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

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.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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