Background: 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 remain 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
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 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: 2.33%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 97.67% (2001)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes

Geography
Note: about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

Population: 20,556 (July 2005 est.)
Growth rate: 2.9% (2005 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: none
Adjective: none

Ethnic groups: black 90% mixed European or North American 10%

Languages: English (official)

Religions: Baptist 40% Methodist 16% Anglican 18% Church of God 12% other 14% (1990)

Age structure
0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,396/female 3,277)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 6,900/female 6,220)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 342/female 421) (2005 est.)

Median age
Total: 27.35 years
Male: 28.08 years
Female: 26.62 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.9% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: 22.23 births/1000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: 4.28 deaths/1000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: 11.09 migrant(s)/1000 population (2005 est.)

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources private cisterns collect rainwater

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male/female
Total population: 1.07 male/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 15.67 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 18.11 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 13.11 deaths/1000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.51 years
Male: 72.28 years
Female: 76.84 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.08 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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 (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence: 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 few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005)
Head of government: Chief Minister Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003)
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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
Election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]

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

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 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 is the leading source of tourists accounting for more than half of the annual 93,000 visitors in the late 1990s. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $216 million (2002 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 4.9% (2000 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2002 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 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

Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA
Highest 10: NA

Budget
Revenues: $47 million
Expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997-98 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (1995)

Exports: $169.2 million (2000)
Commodities: lobster dried and fresh conch conch shells
Partners: US UK

Imports: $175.6 million (2000)
Commodities: food and beverages tobacco clothing manufactures construction materials
Partners: US UK

Debt external: NA

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Production: 5 million kWh (2002)
Consumption: 4.65 million kWh (2002)
Exports: 0 kWh (2002)
Imports: 0 kWh (2002)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 5,700 (2002)
Mobile cellular: 1700 (1999)

Telephone system
General assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing
Domestic: full range of services available
International: country code - 1-649; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Internet
Country code: .tc
Users: NA

Airports: 8 (2004 est.)
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Disputes international: have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

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