1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 430 km2 land area: 430 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Coastline
389 km
Environment
30 islands (eight inhabited); subject to frequent hurricanes
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%
Location
in the western North Atlantic Ocean, 190 km north of the Dominican Republic and southeast of The Bahamas
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
spiny lobster, conch
Terrain
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
People and Society
Birth rate
14.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
African
Infant mortality rate
12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
NA by occupation: majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture
Languages
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.34 years male: 73.41 years female: 77.02 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1970) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98%
Nationality
noun: none adjective: none
Net migration rate
20.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
13,137 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
2.97% (1993 est.)
Religions
Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Total fertility rate
2.17 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital
Grand Turk
Chief of State
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Michael J. BRADLEY (since NA 1987)
Constitution
introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, and a Constitutional Commission is currently reviewing its contents
Digraph
TK
Diplomatic representation in US
as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of the Turks and Caicos Islands are represented in the US by the UK
Executive branch
British monarch, governor, Executive Council, chief minister
Flag
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Head of Government
Chief Minister Washington MISSIC (since NA 1991)
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Council
Legislative Council
last held on 3 April 1991 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PNP 8, PDM 5
Member of
CARICOM (associate), CDB
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
National holiday
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Political parties and leaders
Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISSIC; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Oswald SKIPPINGS; National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel MISSICK
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
dependent territory of the UK
US diplomatic representation
none
Economy
Agriculture
subsistence farming prevails, based on corn and beans; fishing more important than farming; not self-sufficient in food
Budget
revenues $20.3 million; expenditures $44.0 million, including capital expenditures of $23.9 million (1989)
Currency
US currency is used
Economic aid
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $110 million
Electricity
9,050 kW capacity; 11.1 million kWh produced, 860 kWh per capita (1992)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$4.1 million (f.o.b., 1987) commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells partners: US, UK
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$33.2 million (c.i.f., FY84) commodities: foodstuffs, drink, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials partners: US, UK
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
fishing, tourism, offshore financial services
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $68.5 million (1989 est.)
National product per capita
$5,000 (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate
NA%
Overview
The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and offshore banking. Only subsistence farming - corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - exists on the Caicos Islands, so that most foods, as well as nonfood products, must be imported.
Unemployment rate
12% (1992)
Communications
Airports
total: 7 usable: 7 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 4
Highways
121 km, including 24 km tarmac
Ports
Grand Turk, Salt Cay, Providenciales, Cockburn Harbour
Telecommunications
fair cable and radio services; 1,446 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, no FM, several TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK