2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.21% (male 3,807; female 4,084) 15-64 years: 69.74% (male 12,102; female 12,676) 65 years and over: 8.05% (male 1,318; female 1,540) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Airports
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) Cayman Islands Military
Area
total: 259 sq km land: 259 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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. Cayman Islands Geography
Birth rate
13.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $265.2 million expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Capital
George Town
Climate
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Coastline
160 km
Constitution
1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Currency
Caymanian dollar (KYD)
Currency code
KYD
Death rate
5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$70 million (1996)
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)
Disputes - international
none
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
306.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
330 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
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
Ethnic groups
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Exchange rates
Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor and President of the Executive Council Peter SMITH (since 5 May 1999) head of government: Kurt TIBBETTS (since November 2000) 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
Exports
$1.5 million (1998)
Exports - commodities
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners
mostly US
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March Cayman Islands Communications
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 Cayman Islands Economy
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
4.9% (1999 est.)
Geographic coordinates
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Geography - note
important location between Cuba and Central America Cayman Islands People
Government type
British crown colony
Highways
total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs
vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment to the US and Europe
Imports
$507.6 million (1998)
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners
US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Infant mortality rate
10.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3% (1998)
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate)
Internet country code
.ky
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
16 (2000)
Internet users
NA Cayman Islands Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Labor force
19,820 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 23% other: 69% (1993 est.)
Languages
English
Legal system
British common law and local statutes
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.03 years male: 76.24 years female: 81.43 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.) Cayman Islands Government
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
Merchant marine
total: 106 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,656,452 GRT/2,643,036 DWT ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 5, chemical tanker 27, container 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Finland 1, Greece 11, Norway 3, UK 3, US 3 (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK Cayman Islands Transnational Issues
Military branches
Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
National holiday
Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Nationality
noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Natural hazards
hurricanes (July to November)
Natural resources
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Net migration rate
12.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Political parties and leaders
there are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations; National Team; Democratic Alliance; Team Cayman
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
35,527 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
2.12% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Cayman Brac, George Town
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
36,000 (1997)
Railways
0 km
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: 0.93 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: NA 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)
Terrain
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Total fertility rate
2.04 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
4.1% (1997)
Waterways
none