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: 19 30 N 80 30 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 160 km

Maritime claims

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

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)

Geography
Note: important location between Cuba and Central America


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Population: 34,763 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 2.22% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.22% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 14.21 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 5.09 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 13.12 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 10.44 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (2000 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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: British crown colony

Capital: George Town

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

Dependent areas

Independence: none (overseas 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

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)

Judicial branch: Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties

International organization participation: Caricom (observer) CDB Interpol (subbureau) IOC

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us: none (overseas 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: With no direct taxation the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997 including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. 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 1.2 million visitors in 1997. 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: 5% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: vegetables fruit; livestock turtle farming

Industries: tourism banking insurance and finance construction construction materials furniture

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 19,820 (1995)
By occupation agriculture: 1.4%
By occupation industry: 12.6%
By occupation services: 86% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 5.1% (1996)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3% (1998)

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: $2.17 million (1997)
Commodities: turtle products manufactured consumer goods
Partners: mostly US

Imports: $432 million (1997)
Commodities: foodstuffs manufactured goods
Partners: US Trinidad and Tobago UK Netherlands Antilles Japan

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $70 million (1996)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (3 November 1995) 0.85 (22 November 1993)


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 290 million kWh (1998)

Electricity consumption: 270 million kWh (1998)

Electricity exports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity imports: 0 kWh (1998)

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: 2,534 (1995)

Telephone system

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 (1999 est.)

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment