1996 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1996 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Description
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
Location
21 45 N, 71 35 W -- Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas Flag ----
Geography
Area
- comparative area
- 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
- land area
- 430 sq km
- total area
- 430 sq km
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
- international agreements
- NA
- natural hazards
- frequent hurricanes
Geographic coordinates
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geographic note
30 islands (eight inhabited)
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 2%
- forest and woodland
- 0%
- meadows and pastures
- 0%
- other
- 98%
- permanent crops
- 0%
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
Terrain
- low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
- highest point
- Blue Hills 49 m
- lowest point
- Caribbean Sea 0 m
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
12.85 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate
5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic divisions
African
Infant mortality rate
12.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
- female
- 77.07 years (1996 est.)
- male
- 73.46 years
- total population
- 75.4 years
Literacy
- age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
- female
- 98%
- male
- 99%
- total population
- 98%
Nationality
- adjective
- none
- noun
- none
Net migration rate
13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population
14,302 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate
2.14% (1996 est.)
Religions
Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Sex ratio
- all ages
- NA male(s)/female
- at birth
- NA male(s)/female
- under 15 years
- NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
Total fertility rate
1.86 children born/woman (1996 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
Data code
TK
Diplomatic representation in US
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch
- cabinet
- Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council
- chief of state
- Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1953) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993) who was appointed by the queen
- head of government
- Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) was appointed by the governor
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)
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
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
Name of country
- 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; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type of government
dependent territory of the UK
US diplomatic representation
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Economy
Agriculture
corn, beans; fish
Budget
- expenditures
- $30.4 million (1995), including capital expenditures of $NA
- revenues
- $31.9 million (1995)
Currency
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid
- recipient
- ODA, $NA
Economic overview
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming - mainly corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.
Electricity
- capacity
- 9,050 kW
- consumption per capita
- 860 kWh (1992)
- production
- 11.1 million kWh
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
GDP
purchasing power parity - $80.8 million (1992 est.)
GDP composition by sector
- agriculture
- NA%
- industry
- NA%
- services
- NA%
GDP per capita
$6,000 (1992 est.)
GDP real growth rate
-1.5% (1992 est.)
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%
Labor force
- 4,848 (1990 est.)
- by occupation
- majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture
Unemployment rate
12% (1992)
Communications
Defense note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
7,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
- fair cable and radiotelephone services
- domestic
- NA
- international
- 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
1,359 (1988 est.)
Television broadcast stations
television programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received in the islands
Televisions
NA Defense
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 (1995 est.)
Highways
- paved
- 24 km
- total
- 121 km
- unpaved
- 97 km
Merchant marine
none
Ports
Grand Turk, Providenciales
Railways
0 km