Statistical information Turks and Caicos Islands 2001

Turks and Caicos Islands in the World
top of pageBackground: The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962 when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. 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.
top of pageLocation: Caribbean two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean southeast of The Bahamas
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N 71 35 W
Map reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 430 km²
Land: 430 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claimsExclusive 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster conch
Land useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: frequent hurricanes
GeographyNote: 30 islands (eight inhabited)
top of pagePopulation: 18,122 (July 2001 est.)
Growth rate: 3.41% (2001 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: none
Adjective: none
Ethnic groups: black
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Baptist 41.2% Methodist 18.9% Anglican 18.3% Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7% other 19.9% (1980)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 32.58% (male 2,996; female 2,908)
15-64 years: 63.51% (male 6,050; female 5,459)
65 years and over: 3.91% (male 316; female 393) (2001 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.41% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 24.89 births/1000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 4.47 deaths/1000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 13.69 migrant(s)/1000 population (2001 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: limited natural fresh water resources private cisterns collect rainwater
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male/female
Total population: 1.07 male/female (2001 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 18.06 deaths/1000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 73.52 years
Male: 71.37 years
Female: 75.77 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.22 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: NA%
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA
Major infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 98% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Government type: NA
Capital: Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Mervyn JONES (since 27 January 2000)
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 among the members of the Legislative Council
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branchElections: last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)
Election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate) CDB Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representationIn 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 colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell lobster and cactus
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism fishing and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1996 accounting for more than half of the 87,000 visitors; tourist arrivals had risen to 93,000 by 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 8.7% (1999 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Agriculture products: corn beans cassava (tapioca) citrus fruits; fish
Industries: tourism offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)
By occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism financial and other services (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%
Distribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $47 million
Expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-1998 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (1995)
Central bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $4.7 million (1993)
Commodities: lobster dried and fresh conch conch shells
Partners: US UK
Imports: $46.6 million (1993)
Commodities: food and beverages tobacco clothing manufactures construction materials
Partners: US UK
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: the US dollar is used
top of pageElectricityProduction: 5 million kWh (1999)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1999)
Consumption: 4.6 million kWh (1999)
Exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Imports: 0 kWh (1999)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesMain lines in use: 3,000 (1994)
Mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone systemGeneral assessment: fair cable and radiotelephone services
Domestic: NA
International: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetCountry code: .tc
Service providers isps: 14 (2000)
Users: NA
Broadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 8 (2000 est.)
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2000 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterways: none
Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs