2000 Edition

Background

The islands were under Jamaican jurisdiction until 1962, when they assumed the status of a crown colony. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory.

Area

land

430 sq km

total

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

highest point

Blue Hills 49 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

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%

forests and woodland

0%

other

98% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

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 hazards

frequent hurricanes

Natural resources

spiny lobster, conch

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 2,889; female 2,806) 15-64 years: 63% (male 5,834; female 5,274) 65 years and over: 4% (male 313; female 386) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

25.65 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

4.57 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

black

Infant mortality rate

18.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.51 years (2000 est.)

male

71.15 years

total population

73.28 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

98% (1970 est.)

male

99%

total population

98%

Nationality

adjective

none

noun

none

Net migration rate

14.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

17,502 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

3.55% (2000 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: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.25 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor

head of government

Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)

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)

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 (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4

elections

last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Political parties and leaders

People's Democratic Movement or PDM ; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish

Budget

expenditures

$33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997/98 est.)

revenues

$47 million

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; tourist arrivals had risen to 93,000 by 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

Electricity - consumption

5 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

5 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

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, financial, and other services (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

10% (1997 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

8,000 (1997)

Telephone system

fair cable and radiotelephone services

domestic

NA

international

2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

3,000 (1994)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1994)

Television broadcast stations

0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997)

Televisions

NA

Airports

7 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

24 km

total

121 km

unpaved

97 km

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US

TUVALU