2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

8 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

2 (2002) Military Turks and Caicos Islands

Area

land

430 sq km

total

430 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Background

The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. 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. Geography Turks and Caicos Islands

Birth rate

23.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$47 million

Capital

Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)

Climate

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Coastline

389 km

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

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Death rate

4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

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)

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

$4.1 million (1997)

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 is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in 2002 but appeared to be picking up at yearend.

Electricity - consumption

4.65 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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

Ethnic groups

black 90%, mixed, European, or north American 10%

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

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 Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor

head of government

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

Exports

$169.2 million (2000)

Exports - commodities

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Exports - partners

US, UK

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Turks and Caicos Islands

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 Economy Turks and Caicos Islands

GDP

purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Geography - note

about 40 islands (eight inhabited) People Turks and Caicos Islands

Government type

NA

Highways

paved

24 km

total

121 km

unpaved

97 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$175.6 million (2000)

Imports - commodities

food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

Imports - partners

US, UK

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, offshore financial services

Infant mortality rate

female

14.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

19.48 deaths/1,000 live births

total

16.87 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (1995)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)

Internet country code

.tc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

14 (2000)

Internet users

NA Transportation Turks and Caicos Islands

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

2.33%

other

97.67% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

English (official)

Legal system

based on laws of England and Wales, with a few 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 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5

elections

last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.3 years (2003 est.)

male

71.82 years

total population

74 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

98% (1970 est.)

male

99%

total population

98%

Location

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

26.3 years (2002)

male

27.7 years

total

27 years

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Issues Turks and Caicos Islands

National holiday

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Nationality

adjective

none

noun

none

Natural hazards

frequent hurricanes

Natural resources

spiny lobster, conch

Net migration rate

12.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

0 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day NA (2001 est.)

People - note

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US Government Turks and Caicos Islands

Political parties and leaders

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

19,350 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

3.14% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

8,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

fair cable and radiotelephone services

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

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Total fertility rate

3.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

10% (1997 est.)

Waterways

none