2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Geography
Area
total: 262 sq km land: 262 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 (Cayman Brac) 43 m
Environment - current issues
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Geographic coordinates
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Geography - note
important location between Cuba and Central America
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)
Location
Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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: 19.9% (male 4,774/female 4,759) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,594/female 17,434) 65 years and over: 9% (male 2,022/female 2,279) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
12.43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
2.8% of GDP (2005)
Ethnic groups
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 80.32 years male: 77.68 years female: 83 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)
Median age
total: 37.8 years male: 37.4 years female: 38.2 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Net migration rate
16.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2008 est.)
Population
47,862 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
2.449% (2008 est.)
Religions
Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentacostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2001)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Capital
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman) geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005) head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business
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
Government type
British crown colony
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU
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; 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
National holiday
Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Political parties and leaders
United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders
National Trust other: environmentalists
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Budget
revenues: $423.8 million expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)
Currency (code)
Caymanian dollar (KYD)
Currency code
KYD
Debt - external
$70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient
$390,000 (2004)
Economy - overview
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. 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 2.1 million in 2003, with about half 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
546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)
Exports
$2.52 million (2004)
Exports - commodities
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners
mostly US (2006)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$43,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.939 billion (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$866.9 million (2004)
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners
US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.4% (2004)
Labor force
23,450 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$130 million (2005)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
2,767 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
2,818 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$NA
Unemployment rate
4.4% (2004)
Communications
Internet country code
.ky
Internet hosts
4,648 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
16 (2000)
Internet users
22,000 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios
36,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: reasonably good system domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use
38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
33,800 (2004)
Television broadcast stations
4 with cable system (2004)
Televisions
7,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine
total: 109 by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 2, chemical tanker 42, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 7 foreign-owned: 107 (Denmark 3, Germany 15, Greece 16, Italy 4, Japan 13, Norway 1, Singapore 10, UK 3, US 42) (2008)
Ports and terminals
Cayman Brac, George Town
Roadways
total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 11,790 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 9,577 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 336 female: 336 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2007)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Illicit drugs
offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008