1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Coastline
389 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Environment-current issues
limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geography-note
30 islands (eight inhabited)
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 98% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
frequent hurricanes
Natural resources
spiny lobster, conch
Terrain
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: (male 2,666; female 2,588) 15-64 years: (male 5,418; female 4,907) 65 years and over: (male 293; female 377) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
27.14 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
black
Infant mortality rate
21.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 72.15 years male: 70.21 years female: 74.2 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.)
Nationality
noun: none adjective: none
Net migration rate
15.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
16,249 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
3.77% (1998 est.)
Religions
Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.32 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution
introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5 March 1988
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Data code
TK
Dependency status
dependent territory of the UK
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996) 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 among the members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
Flag 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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN
Legal system
based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
National capital
Grand Turk
National holiday
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
corn, beans, cassava, citrus fruits; fish
Budget
revenues: $31.9 million expenditures: $30.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Currency
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economy-overview
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of the 87,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
Electricity-capacity
4,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
359 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
5 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
total value: $6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells partners: US, UK
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$110 million (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$7,700 (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
3.5% (1996 est.)
Imports
total value: $42.8 million (1993) commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials partners: US, UK
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, offshore financial services
Inflation rate-consumer price index
8% (1994 est.)
Labor force
total: 4,848 (1990 est.) by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; large numbers in tourism and financial and other services (1997 est.)
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
Unemployment rate
15% (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
7 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US