2002 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.

There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William Keeling discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.

Area

total: 262 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 262 sq km

total: 14 sq km note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island water: 0 sq km land: 14 sq km

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year

Coastline

160 km

26 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Environment - current issues

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

fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Geography - note

islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

Irrigated land

NA sq km

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

Location

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to November)

cyclone season is October to April

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

fish

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Age structure

0-14 years: 22% (male 3,836; female 4,156) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 12,335; female 12,929) 65 years and over: 8.3% (male 1,399; female 1,618) (2002 est.)

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

Birth rate

13.45 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic groups

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

Europeans, Cocos Malays

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

NA

Infant mortality rate

9.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English

Malay (Cocos dialect), English

Life expectancy at birth

81.59 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)

total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school total population:

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander

Net migration rate

12.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2002 est.)

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

36,273 (July 2002 est.)

632 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.03% (2002 est.)

-0.22% (2002 est.)

Religions

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

Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 0.86 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.92 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 (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Administrative divisions

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

George Town

West Island

Constitution

1959, revised 1972 and 1992

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch head of government: (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia head of government: Administrator (nonresident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) cabinet: NA

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

the flag of Australia is used

Government type

British crown colony

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

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

none

Judicial branch

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Legal system

British common law and local statutes

based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members from the Executive Council 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

unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

NA

Political parties and leaders

there are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations; National Team [leader NA]; Democratic Alliance [leader NA]; Team Cayman [leader NA]; United Democratic Party [leader NA]

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

NA

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Budget

revenues: $265.2 million expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code

KYD

AUD

Debt - external

$70 million (1996)

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

$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 1998, 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 in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. 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.

Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.

Electricity - consumption

330.15 million kWh (2000)

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

355 million kWh (2000)

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% other: NA% nuclear: NA%

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)

Exports

$1.2 million (1999)

$NA

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

copra

Exports - partners

mostly US

Australia

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.18 billion (1999 est.)

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $30,000 (1999 est.)

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2000)

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

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

Imports

$457.4 million (1999)

$NA

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods

foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Australia

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

copra products and tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2000)

NA%

Labor force

19,820 (1995)

NA

Labor force - by occupation

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

the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others

Population below poverty line

NA%

NA%

Unemployment rate

4.1% (1997)

60% (2000 est.)

Internet country code

.ky

.cc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

2 (2000)

Internet users

NA

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

Radios

36,000 (1997)

300 (1992)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system domestic: NA international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

19,000 (1995)

287 (1992)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,534 (1995)

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 with cable system

NA

Televisions

7,000 (1997)

NA

Airports

3 (2001)

1 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)

Highways

total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km

total: 15 km (2001) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine

total: 121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,034,181 GRT/3,191,597 DWT ships by type: bulk 24, cargo 4, chemical tanker 34, container 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 40, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Bahrain 2, China 1, Germany 4, Greece 27, Hong Kong 3, Italy 2, Japan 1, Norway 14, Sweden 13, United Kingdom 15, United States 35 (2002 est.)

none (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Cayman Brac, George Town

none; lagoon anchorage only

Railways

0 km

0 km

Waterways

none

none

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Disputes - international

none

none This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Cameroon

Illicit drugs

vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment to the US and Europe This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Cocos (Keeling) Islands