1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Coastline
160 km
Comparative area
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Environment
within the Caribbean hurricane belt
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and pastures; 23% forest and woodland; 69% other
Natural resources
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Note
important location between Cuba and Central America
Terrain
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
260 km2; land area: 260 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
14 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates of various ethnic groups
Infant mortality rate
10 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
8,061; 18.7% service workers, 18.6% clerical, 12.5% construction, 6.7% finance and investment, 5.9% directors and business managers
Language
English
Life expectancy at birth
74 years male, 80 years female (1990)
Literacy
98%
Nationality
noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian
Net migration rate
33 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union
Population
26,356 (July 1990), growth rate 4.3% (1990)
Religion
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Total fertility rate
1.5 children born/woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
12 districts; Bodden Town, Creek, East End, George Town, Jacksons, North Side, Prospect, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West Bay, West End
Capital
George Town
Communists
none
Constitution
1959, revised 1972
Diplomatic representation
as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK; US--none
Elections
Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results--percent of vote NA; seats--(15 total, 12 elected)
Executive branch
British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)
Flag
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
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Leaders
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987); Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)
Legal system
British common law and local statutes
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly
Long-form name
none
Member of
Commonwealth
National holiday
Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 3 July 1989
Political parties and leaders
no formal political parties
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
dependent territory of the UK
Economy
Agriculture
minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming
Aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $32.2 million
Budget
revenues $46.2 million; expenditures $47.0 million, including capital expenditures of $9.1 million (1986)
Currency
Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Electricity
59,000 kW capacity; 213 million kWh produced, 8,960 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--0.835 (fixed rate)
Exports
$2.2 million (f.o.b., 1986 est.); commodities--turtle products, manufactured consumer goods; partners--mostly US
External debt
$15 million (1986)
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
GDP
$238 million, per capita $10,000 (1989 est.); real growth rate 12% (1987 est.)
Imports
$134 million (c.i.f., 1986 est.); commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods; partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, real estate and construction
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.4% (1986)
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.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Highways
160 km of main roads
Merchant marine
32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 355,055 GRT/576,622 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 8 cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 8 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry
Ports
George Town, Cayman Brac
Telecommunications
35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access international services; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, no TV
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK