1996 Edition

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

Location

19 30 N, 80 30 W -- Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras Flag ----

Area

comparative area

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

260 sq km

total area

260 sq km

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

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

hurricanes (July to November)

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geographic note

important location between Cuba and Central America

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forest and woodland

23%

meadows and pastures

8%

other

69%

permanent crops

0%

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

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

highest point

The Bluff 43 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Age structure

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

Birth rate

14.52 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 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 (1996 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.81 years (1996 est.)

male

75.37 years

total population

77.1 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)

female

98%

male

98%

total population

98%

Nationality

adjective

Caymanian

noun

Caymanian(s)

Net migration rate

33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

note

major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Population

34,646 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

4.27% (1996 est.)

Religions

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Data code

CJ

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council - three members are appointed by the governor, four members are elected by the Legislative Assembly

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch

head of government

Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995)

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)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Judicial branch

Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Legal system

British common law and local statutes

Legislative Assembly

election last held 18 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 12

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

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 of government

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Agriculture

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget

expenditures

$160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

revenues

$141.5 million

Currency

1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center. 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 one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. 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.

Electricity

capacity

80,000 kW

consumption per capita

6,899 kWh (1993)

production

230 million kWh

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $750 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

1.4%

industry

3.2%

services

95.4% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita

$22,500 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4.5% (1994 est.)

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, construction materials, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (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)

Unemployment rate

7% (1992)

Branches

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

28,200 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

21,584 (1993 est.)

Televisions

6,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

3

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

304 km

total

406 km

unpaved

102 km

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 1 ship, India 1, Norway 1, US 3, Sweden 1, and UAE 1 (1995 est.)

ships by type

bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4

total

19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT

Ports

Cayman Brac, George Town

Railways

0 km