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.

Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 260 km²
Land: 260 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: 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: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 8%
Forests and woodland: 23%
Other: 69% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)

Geography
Note: important location between Cuba and Central America

Population: 37,716 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 4.22% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Caymanian(s)
Adjective: Caymanian

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 denominations

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 4.22% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 13.95 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Environment
Current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.1 years
Male: 75.37 years
Female: 78.81 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98% (1970 est.)

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

Government type: NA

Capital: George Town

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

Independence: none (dependent 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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952): ead of
Government: Governor and President of the Executive Council John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
Cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; the governor is appointed by the queen

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
Election results: percent of vote_NA; seats_National Team coalition 9, independents 6

Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent 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

Economy overview: With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center; 28,000 foreign companies do business with the 600 registered banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. 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 million visitors in 1995 and again in 1996. 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 growth rate: 4.5% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $23,800 (1996 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.4%
Industry: 3.2%
Services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Agriculture products: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force
Total: 8,061
By occupation serviceworkers: 18.7%
By occupation clerical: 18.6%
By occupation construction: 12.5%
By occupation financeandinvestment: 6.7%
By occupation directorsandbusinessmanagers: 5.9% (1979)

Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)

Budget
Revenues: $141.5 million
Expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 April_31 March

Exports: total value:$3.4 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Commodoties: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Partners: mostly US

Imports: total value:$333 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1_0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Electricity
Capacity: 75,000 kW (1995)
Production: 230 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 6,929 kWh (1995)

Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)

Telephone system
Domestic: NA
International: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine
Total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 751,113 GRT/1,139,958 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, container 5, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 10 countries:Greece 11, US 8, UK 5, Cyprus 1, Finland 1, India 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Sweden 1, and Switzerland 1 (1997 est.)

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money-laundering and drug transshipment