1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 260 sq km land area: 260 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Coastline
160 km
Environment
current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November) international agreements: NA
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 23% other: 69%
Location
Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
14.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Infant mortality rate
8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
8,061 by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%
Nationality
noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Net migration rate
33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
33,192 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
4.3% (1995 est.)
Religions
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Total fertility rate
1.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Capital
George Town
Constitution
1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Digraph
CJ
Diplomatic representation in US
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council Michael GORE (since 15 September 1992) cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members are appointed by the governor, 4 members elected by the Legislative Assembly
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
Legal system
British common law and local statutes
Legislative Assembly
election last held November 1992 (next to be held November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)
Legislative branch
unicameral
Member of
CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
National holiday
Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Political parties and leaders
no formal political parties
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
dependent territory of the UK
US diplomatic representation
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Economy
Agriculture
minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming
Budget
revenues: $141.5 million expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Currency
1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $35 million
Electricity
capacity: 80,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Exports
$10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods partners: mostly US
External debt
$15 million (1986)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Illicit drugs
a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Imports
$312 million (c.i.f., 1993 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, construction, building materials, furniture making
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.5% (1993 est.)
National product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $700 million (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$23,000 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
1.4% (1991)
Overview
The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency 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 must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Unemployment rate
7% (1992)
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
35,000 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Television
broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
total: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
Highways
total: 160 km (main roads) paved: NA unpaved: NA
Merchant marine
total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 321,434 GRT/583,348 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 6 ships, India 5, Norway 3, US 3, Greece 1, Sweden 1, UAE 1
Ports
Cayman Brac, George Town
Railroads
0 km
Military and Security
Branches
Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK ________________________________________________________________________ CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC