2019 Edition

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. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center.

Area

Land

264 sq km

Total

264 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

Highest Point

1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m

Lowest Point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment Current Issues

no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants and rainwater catchment; trash washing up on the beaches or being deposited there by residents; no recycling or waste treatment facilities; deforestation (trees being cut down to create space for commercial use)

Geographic Coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography Note

important location between Cuba and Central America

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

11.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

0.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

2.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

8.3% (2011 est.)

Forest

52.9% (2011 est.)

Other

35.9% (2011 est.)

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

Exclusive Fishing Zone

200 nm

Territorial Sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

hurricanes (July to November)

Natural Resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Population Distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Age Structure

0 14 Years

17.91% (male 5,376 /female 5,298)

15 24 Years

12.2% (male 3,609 /female 3,662)

25 54 Years

42.12% (male 12,256 /female 12,855)

55 64 Years

14.64% (male 4,169 /female 4,558)

65 Years And Over

13.13% (male 3,627 /female 4,203) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

12 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Total

97.4% of population

Improved Urban

97.4% of population

Unimproved Total

2.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.6% of population

Ethnic Groups

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

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

4.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

6.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

84.2 years

Male

78.7 years

Total Population

81.4 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

Female

99% (2007)

Male

98.7%

Total Population

98.9%

Major Infectious Diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major Urban Areas Population

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median Age

Female

40.9 years

Male

39.5 years

Total

40.2 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Caymanian

Noun

Caymanian(s)

Net Migration Rate

13.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Population

59,613 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.96% (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 67.8% (includes Church of God 22.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.4%, Presbyterian/United Church 8.6%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal 7.1%, non-denominational 5.3%, Anglican 4.1%, Wesleyan Holiness 2.4%), Roman Catholic 14.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other 7%, none 9.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Total

95.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

95.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

4.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

4.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.99 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.95 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.86 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.02 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.95 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.84 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

11.4% (2015 est.)

Male

16.4%

Total

13.8%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.27% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

100% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

19 18 N, 81 23 W

Name

George Town (on Grand Cayman)

Time Difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

Amendments

amended several times, last in 2016 (2018)

History

several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

none

Conventional Short Form

Cayman Islands

Etymology

the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there

Dependency Status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet selected from the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier

Chief Of State

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018)

Elections Appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor

Head Of Government

Premier Alden MCLAUGHLIN (since 29 May 2013)

Flag Description

a blue field 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 crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea; a scroll below the shield bears the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Government Type

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70

Subordinate Courts

Summary Court

Legal System

English common law and local statutes

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral Legislative Assembly (21 seats; 19 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - independent 44.7%, PPM 31.2%, CDP 24.1%; seats by party - independent 9, PPM 7, CDP 3; composition - men 18, women 3, percent of women 14.3%

Elections

last held on 24 May 2017 (next to be held in 2021)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Leila E. ROSS

Name

Beloved Isle Cayman

National Holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

National Symbol S

green sea turtle

Political Parties And Leaders

People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Alden MCLAUGHLIN] Cayman Democratic Party or CDP [McKeeva BUSH]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget

Expenditures

766.6 million (2017 est.)

Revenues

874.5 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

14.9%

31 December 2017

14.9%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$493.5 million

2017

-$492.6 million

Economy Overview

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 65,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2017, including more than 280 banks, 700 insurers, and 10,500 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland.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 2016, with more than three-quarters from the US.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.83

2014

0.82

2015

0.82

2016

0.82

2017

0.82

Currency

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$47.6 million

2017

$421.9 million

Exports Commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

65.4% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

14.5% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

62.3% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-64.2% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

22.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

0.3% (2017 est.)

Industry

7.4% (2017 est.)

Services

92.3% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$2.25 billion (2008 est.) (2008 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2004

$43,800

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2012

$2.435 billion

2013

$2.465 billion

2014

$2.507 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2012

1.6%

2013

1.2%

2014

1.7%

Imports

2016

$810.1 million

2017

$787.3 million

Imports Commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-0.6%

2017

2%

Labor Force

39,000 (2007 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

1.9%

Industry

19.1%

Services

79% (2008 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2006

$188.4 million

31 December 2007

$183.5 million

31 December 2015

$315.6 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2008

$5.564 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

NA

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

NA

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2008

$334.3 million

Taxes And Other Revenues

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2004

4.4%

2008

4%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

643,800 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

612 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

132,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

650 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

4,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

4,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

42 (2017 est.)

Total

24,535

Broadcast Media

4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman

Internet Country Code

.ky

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

79% (July 2016 est.)

Total

45,242

Telephone System

Domestic

introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 boosted subscriptions dramatically; 60 per 100 fixed-line, 164 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018)

General Assessment

reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity; given the high dependence of tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services, the telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; good competion in all sectors promotes advancement in mobile telephony and data segments (2018)

International

country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Deep Blue Cable, and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

60 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

34,116

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

164 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

95,656

Airports

3 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

2 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2017)

Total

3 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2012)

Total

1 (2012)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

VP-C (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 31, general cargo 4, oil tanker 19, other 111 (2018)

Total

165

National Air Transport System

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

6 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Cayman Brac, George Town

Roadways

Paved

785 km (2007)

Total

785 km (2007)

Military And Security Forces

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (2019)

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes International

none

Illicit Drugs

major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe