1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Environment--current issues
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Geography--note
important location between Cuba and Central America
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 23% other: 69% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
hurricanes (July to November)
Natural resources
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
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
13.66 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Infant mortality rate
8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)
Nationality
noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Net migration rate
33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Population
39,335 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
4.19% (1999 est.)
Religions
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Total fertility rate
1.31 children born/woman (1999 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
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code
CJ
Dependency status
overseas 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 John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch
Flag 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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
Legal system
British common law and local statutes
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--National Team coalition 9, independents 6
National holiday
Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Budget
revenues: $265.2 million expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Currency
1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$70 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient
$NA
Economy--overview
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Electricity--consumption
290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Exports
$2.65 million (1996)
Exports--commodities
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports--partners
mostly US
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$930 million (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$24,500 (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
5.5% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$379.4 million (1996)
Imports--commodities
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports--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)
2.7% (1997)
Labor force
19,820 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation
service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
5.1% (1996)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 4 (the four stations have a total of six frequencies), shortwave 0 (1998)
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.)
Television broadcast stations
NA
Televisions
6,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
3 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,264,113 GRT/1,970,959 DWT ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 11, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries among which are: Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none
Illicit drugs
vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment