2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.6% (male 4,525; female 4,541) 15-64 years: 70.6% (male 14,463; female 15,157) 65 years and over: 7.7% (male 1,515; female 1,733) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming

Airports

3 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) Military Cayman Islands

Area

land

262 sq km

total

262 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 since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent. Geography Cayman Islands

Birth rate

13.33 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$265.2 million

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

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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 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.

Electricity - consumption

355.2 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

381.9 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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 catchments

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

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

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); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)

elections

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

head of government

Chief Secretary W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA December 2001)

Exports

$1.2 million (1999)

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners

mostly US

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Cayman Islands

Flag description

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms 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 Economy Cayman Islands

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.4%

industry

3.2%

services

95.4% (1994 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $35,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography - note

important location between Cuba and Central America People Cayman Islands

Government type

British crown colony

Highways

paved

785 km (2000)

total

785 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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$457.4 million (1999)

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

female

7.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

9.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.64 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2002)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.ky

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

NA Transportation Cayman Islands

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%

other

100% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

English

Legal system

British common law and local statutes

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)

election results

percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA

elections

last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.3 years (2003 est.)

male

77.08 years

total population

79.67 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

98% (1970 est.) Government Cayman Islands

male

98%

total population

98%

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

Median age

female

36.4 years (2002)

male

35.8 years

total

36.1 years

Merchant marine

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.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 22, cargo 5, chemical tanker 31, container 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 35, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1

total

123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,402,058 GRT/3,792,094 DWT

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Issues Cayman Islands

Military branches

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

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Nationality

adjective

Caymanian

noun

Caymanian(s)

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to November)

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Net migration rate

19.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

41,934 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

2.79% (2003 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, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

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

1 with cable system

Televisions

7,000 (1997)

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (1997)

Waterways

none