2024 Edition Primary

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, 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

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% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.)

forest

52.9% (2018 est.)

other

35.9% (2018 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

11.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.4

potential support ratio

9.6 (2021)

total dependency ratio

32.6

youth dependency ratio

22.3

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 97.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.6% of population

Education expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2019)

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.)

note

note: data represent population by country of birth

Gross reproduction rate

0.9 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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

note

note:  data represent main language spoken at home

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.2 years

male

79.8 years

total population

82.5 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

99% (2021) NA

male

98.7% NA

total population

98.9% NA

Major urban areas - population

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

42 years

male

40.3 years

total

41.2 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Caymanian

noun

Caymanian(s)

Net migration rate

12.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density

NA

Population

female

34,274 (2024 est.)

male

32,379

total

66,653

Population distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Population growth rate

1.75% (2024 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: 95.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 95.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.4% of population

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

1.82 children born/woman (2024 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

named after English King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

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 2016, 2020

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

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)

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 Juliana O'CONNOR-CONNOLLY (since 15 November 2023)

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 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); 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 Parliament (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 79.1%, PPM 19.6%; elected seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7; ex-officio members 2; composition - men 16, women 5, percentage women 23.8%

elections

last held on 14 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Leila E. ROSS

name

"Beloved Isle Cayman"

note

note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

National symbol(s)

green sea turtle

Political parties

Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPPPeople'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.)

Credit ratings

Moody's rating

Aa3 (1997)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$646.843 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

-$827.492 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$821.404 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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 2017

0.833 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.833 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.833 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.833 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.833 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$4.205 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$3.951 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$4.054 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Malta 30%, Norway 22%, Seychelles 16%, Grenada 8%, US 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

59.6% (2020 est.)

government consumption

2.6% (2020 est.)

household consumption

62.3% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-45.8% (2020 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.1% (2017 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.5% (2022 est.)

industry

8.2% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

85.4% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.601 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2019

$2.743 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$2.51 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$2.743 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, gold (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 47%, Italy 19%, Turkey 7%, Germany 6%, Switzerland 4% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.45% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015

-2.35% (2015 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

-0.63% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

2% (2017 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$4.956 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$5.199 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$5.467 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-4.95% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.9% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.16% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2020

$73,600 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$76,300 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$79,600 (2022 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2020

0.16% of GDP (2020 est.)

Remittances 2021

0.17% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.15% of GDP (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018

$162.074 million (2018 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019

$183.5 million (2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$216.8 million (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

11.4%

male

16.4%

total

13.8% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

718,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

718,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

697.351 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

175,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.117 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

96.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

3.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

144.845 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

49 (2020 est.)

total

3,200 (2020 est.)

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

81.1% (2021 est.)

total

55,148 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

53 per 100 fixed-line and 150 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)

general assessment

the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021)

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

53 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

36,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

147 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

100,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

3 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-C

Heliports

5 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

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

total

130 (2023)

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports

key ports

Cayman Brac, Georgetown

ports with oil terminals

2

total ports

2 (2024)

very small

2

Roadways

paved

785 km (2007)

total

785 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

Illicit drugs

major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering  

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.55 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

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

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)

Land use

agricultural land

11.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.)

forest

52.9% (2018 est.)

other

35.9% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

60,000 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

12,600 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

21% (2013 est.)