2020 Edition

Background

The British colonized the Cayman Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Jamaica -- also a British colony at the time -- administered the islands 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, D.C.

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

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography - note

important location between Cuba and Central America

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

11.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 8.3% (2023 est.)

forest

53% (2023 est.)

other

35.8% (2023 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 economic zone

200 nm

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

17.4% (male 5,845/female 5,767)

15-64 years

65.9% (male 21,480/female 22,456)

65 years and over

16.7% (2024 est.) (male 5,054/female 6,051)

Birth rate

11.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

25.3 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

4 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.7 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

26.4 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

15% national budget (2019 est.)

Ethnic groups

Cayman Islander 35.4%, Jamaican 24.8%, Filipino 5.5%, British 5.3%, American 5.2%, Honduran 4.2%, Canadian 3.3%, Indian 2.1%, Cuban 1.6%, Nicaraguan 1%, other 11.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.9 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

English (official) 88.8%, Spanish 3.9%, Filipino 3.8%, other 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.2 years

male

79.8 years

total population

82.5 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

42 years

male

40.3 years

total

41.3 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Caymanian

noun

Caymanian(s)

Net migration rate

11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population

female

34,274

male

32,379

total

66,653 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.71% (2025 est.)

Religions

Protestant 60.8% (includes Church of God 19.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.7%, non-denominational 8.3%, Baptist 6.9%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Presbyterian/United Church 5.7%, Anglican 2.8%, Wesleyan Holiness 1.5%, Methodist 0.5%), Roman Catholic 13.6%, Hindu 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 4.8%, none 16.7%, unspecified 1.4% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 93.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 93.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 6.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 6.5% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

originally named Hogstyes, the town was renamed in honor of English King GEORGE III (1738-1820) around 1800

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

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

Spanish explorers named the islands in the early 16th century, using the Carib word for marine crocodiles, caiman

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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 Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023)

election/appointment process

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

head of government

Premier André Martin EBANKS (since 6 May 2025)

Flag

description: a blue field with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms has a pineapple, a turtle, a shield with a golden lion and three green stars, and a scroll below the shield with the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS meaning: the pineapple represents ties to Jamaica; the turtle represents the Caymans' seafaring tradition; the lion symbolizes Great Britain; the green stars represent the three islands; the white and blue wavy lines on the coat of arms represent the sea

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 court(s)

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)

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

expected date of next election

2025

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament

most recent election date

4/14/2021

number of seats

21 (directly elected and appointed)

parties elected and seats per party

independent (12); PPM (7)

percentage of women in chamber

23.8%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National coat of arms

the Queen of England approved the Cayman Islands' coat of arms -- which was designed with input from the public -- in 1958; the shield features the lion of England and three green stars that symbolize the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman; the green turtle stands for the islands’ seafaring history, the rope under it for the thatch-rope industry, and the pineapple for historical ties with Jamaica; the motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage

National holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

National symbol(s)

green sea turtle

Political parties

Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP People's Progressive Movement or PPM

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget

expenditures

$766.6 million (2017 est.)

revenues

$874.5 million (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$794.205 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$749.482 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$712.684 million (2023 est.)

Economic overview

dominant offshore banking territory; services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity; recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering; large tourism sector; does not have any welfare system; high standard of living

Exchange rates

Currency

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.833 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.833 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.833 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.833 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.833 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$3.542 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$4.215 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$4.6 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

aircraft, ships, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Exports - partners

UK 40%, Cyprus 21%, Germany 9%, Grenada 8%, Italy 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.5% (2022 est.)

industry

8.2% (2022 est.)

services

85.4% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.139 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$2.808 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$3.287 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$3.444 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, cars, furniture, jewelry (2023)

Imports - partners

Germany 30%, USA 29%, Italy 20%, Turkey 5%, China 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2022 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015

-2.3% (2015 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

-0.6% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

2% (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$5.199 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$5.467 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.705 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.9% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2021

$74,200 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$76,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$78,100 (2023 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$228.3 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$225.4 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$234 million (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

698.767 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

176,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.117 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

143.149 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

56 (2022 est.)

total

40,000 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer 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

81% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

50 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

36,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

139 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

99,737 (2022 est.)

Airports

3 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-C

Heliports

5 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77

total

130 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Cayman Brac, Georgetown

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

2

small

0

total ports

2 (2024)

very small

2

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

65 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

no natural freshwater resources; trash washing up or being deposited on beaches; no recycling or waste-treatment facilities; deforestation

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

60,000 tons (2024 est.)