1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 430 sq km land area: 430 sq km 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
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater natural hazards: frequent hurricanes international agreements: NA
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%
Location
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, 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
Note
30 islands (eight inhabited)
Terrain
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
13.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
5.16 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
African
Infant mortality rate
12.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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: 75.37 years male: 73.44 years female: 77.04 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98%
Nationality
noun: none adjective: none
Net migration rate
15.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
13,941 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
2.41% (1995 est.)
Religions
Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Total fertility rate
2.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital
Grand Turk
Constitution
introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5 March 1988
Digraph
TK
Diplomatic representation in US
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993) head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) cabinet: Executive Council; consists of three ex-officio members and five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council
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
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
elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
Member of
CARICOM (associate), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau)
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 MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel MISSICK
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
dependent territory of the UK
US diplomatic representation
none (dependent territory of the UK)
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 million, including capital expenditures of $23.9 million (1989 est.)
Currency
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $110 million
Electricity
capacity: 9,050 kW production: 11.1 million kWh consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells partners: US, UK
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
calendar year
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US
Imports
$42.8 million (1993) commodities: food and beverages, 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 parity - $80.8 million (1992 est.)
National product per capita
$6,000 (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate
-1.5% (1992)
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
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
1,446 telephones; fair cable and radio services local: NA intercity: NA international: 2 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Television
broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
total: 7 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
Highways
total: 121 km (including 24 km tarmac) paved: NA unpaved: NA
Merchant marine
none
Ports
Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales, Salt Cay
Railroads
0 km
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK ________________________________________________________________________ TUVALU