1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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: 32% (male 2,777; female 2,697) 15-64 years: 63% (male 5,619; female 5,085) 65 years and over: 5% (male 305; female 380) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
26.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
black
Infant mortality rate
21.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 72.35 years male: 70.4 years female: 74.4 years (1999 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 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
16,863 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
3.65% (1999 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: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Capital
Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
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
overseas territory of the UK
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (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 monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; 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 (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party or PNP
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 holiday
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Budget
revenues: $47 million expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997/98 est.)
Currency
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$NA
Economic aid--recipient
$5.7 million (1995)
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--consumption
5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$4.7 million (1993)
Exports--commodities
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports--partners
US, UK
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$117 million (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$7,700 (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
4% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$46.6 million (1993)
Imports--commodities
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports--partners
US, UK
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, offshore financial services
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4% (1995)
Labor force
4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism and financial and other services (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
10% (1997 est.)
Communications
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
0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
7 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 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