2000 Edition

Background

The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.

Area

land

259 sq km

total

259 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

highest point

The Bluff 43 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment

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%

forests and woodland

23%

other

69% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

8%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.36% (male 3,769; female 4,005) 15-64 years: 69.84% (male 11,864; female 12,416) 65 years and over: 7.79% (male 1,241; female 1,468) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

14.21 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Infant mortality rate

10.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.27 years (2000 est.)

male

76.1 years

total population

78.88 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

98% (1970 est.)

male

98%

total population

98%

Nationality

adjective

Caymanian

noun

Caymanian(s)

Net migration rate

13.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

note

major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Population

34,763 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.22% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

0.86 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2000 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

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Cayman Islands

Data code

CJ

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch

head of government

Governor and President of the Executive Council Peter SMITH (since 5 May 1999)

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

British crown colony

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

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)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - National Team coalition 9, independents 6

elections

last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)

National holiday

Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

Political parties and leaders

no formal political parties

note

the National Team, an organization formed in 1992 to oppose some proposals in the constitutional draft, continues to exert legislative power

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming

Budget

expenditures

$248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

revenues

$265.2 million

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

270 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

290 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Exports

$2.17 million (1997)

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% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$432 million (1997)

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)

3% (1998)

Labor force

19,820 (1995)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

5.1% (1996)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

36,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

19,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,534 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

7,000 (1997)

Airports

3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

304 km

total

406 km

unpaved

102 km

Merchant marine

among which are

Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)

note

a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries

ships by type

bulk 18, cargo 10, chemical tanker 14, container 4, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 26, roll-on/roll-off 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)

total

85 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,139,740 GRT/1,693,212 DWT

Ports and harbors

Cayman Brac, George Town

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC