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.

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 260 km²
Land: 260 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 160 km
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 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

Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 8%
Forest and woodland: 23%
Other: 69%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Population: 30,440 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 4.35% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Caymanian(s)
Adjective: Caymanian

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

Languages: English

Religions:

Population growth rate: 4.35% (1993 est.)

Birth rate: 15.32 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Environment
Current issues: within the Caribbean hurricane belt
Current issues note: important location between Cuba and Central America

Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.1 years
Male: 75.37 years
Female: 78.81 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%
By occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

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

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: George Town

Administrative divisions:

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

Constitution: 1959, revised 1972

Legal system: British common law and local statutes

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

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

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

Economy overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export 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 needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.

Real gdp growth rate: 4.4% (1991)

Real gdp per capita: $23,000 (1991 est.)

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: growth rate NA%

Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)

Budget: revenues $141.5 million; expenditures $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.)
Commodoties: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Partners: mostly US

Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 1.20 (fixed rate)

Electricity
Production: 74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 8,780 kWh per capita (1992)

Airports: 3
Usable: 3
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2

Merchant marine:

Disputes international: none