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.

Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 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 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: spiny lobster, conch

Land use
Arable land: 2%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 98% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes

Geography
Note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)

Population: 16,249 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 3.77% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: 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)

Age structure
0-14 years: (male 2,666; female 2,588)
15-64 years: (male 5,418; female 4,907)
65 years and over: (male 293; female 377) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.77% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 27.14 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

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

Net migration rate: 15.57 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 21.7 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.15 years
Male: 70.21 years
Female: 74.2 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.32 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 98% (1970 est.)

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

Government type: NA

Capital: Grand Turk

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent 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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996): ead 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 queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)

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 colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

Economy 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. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

Real gdp growth rate: 3.5% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $7,700 (1996 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: corn, beans, cassava, citrus fruits; fish

Industries: tourism, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force
Total: 4,848 (1990 est.)
By occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; large numbers in tourism and financial and other services (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $31.9 million
Expenditures: $30.4 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1995)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: total value:$6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodoties: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Partners: US, UK

Imports: total value:$42.8 million (1993)
Commodoties: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Partners: US, UK

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Electricity
Capacity: 4,000 kW (1995)
Production: 5 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 359 kWh (1995)

Telephones: 1,359 (1988 est.)

Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services
Domestic: NA
International: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Airports: 7 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US