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

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Background: 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.


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Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 430 km²
Land: 430 km²
Comparative: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 389 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Terrain: Low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 98%

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: none
Adjective: none

Ethnic groups: African

Languages: English (official)

Religions:

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:

Net migration rate: 13.74 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
15.83 migrants/1000 population 1995 est. Infant Mortality Rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Current issues Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
International agreements: NA
International agreements note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.4 years (1996 est.), 75.37 years (1995 est.)
Male: 73.46 years (1996 est.), 73.44 years (1995 est.)
Female: 77.07 years (1996 est.), 77.04 years (1995 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 that has ever attended school (1970)
Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 98%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

Government type: Dependent territory of the U.K.

Capital: Grand Turk

Administrative divisions: None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

Dependent areas

Independence: None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution: Introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5 March 1988

Legal system: Based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993)
Head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)
Cabinet: Executive Council; consists of three ex-officio members and five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council

Legislative branch: Unicameral Legislative Council:Elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(20 total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CARICOM (associate), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau)

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: Blue with the flag of the U.K. 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming_mainly corn, cassava, citrus, and beans_on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: -1.5% (1992)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $6,000 (1992 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Subsistence farming prevails, based on corn and beans; fishing more important than farming; not self-sufficient in food

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)
Note: majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries_Some subsistence agriculture

Unemployment rate: 12% (1992)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $31.9 million (1995), $20.3 million (1989 est.)
Expenditures: $30.4 million (1995), including capital expenditures of $NA, $44 million, including capital expenditures of $23.9 million (1989 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: Calendar year

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. $6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports: total value:$42.8 million (1993)
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: U.S. currency is used


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Electricity
Capacity: 9,050 kW
Production: 11.1 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 1,359 telephones (1988 est.); fair cable and radio services
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 2 submarine cables; 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: 7
15-24 to 2437 m: 3
914 to 1523 m: 2
Under 914 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: None

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: Transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the U.S.