2010 Edition

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 remain a British overseas territory.

Area

land

948 sq km

total

948 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

Flamingo Hill 48 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

about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

2.33%

other

97.67% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

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

Natural hazards

frequent hurricanes

Natural resources

spiny lobster, conch

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.2% (male 3,528/female 3,401) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 7,875/female 7,164) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 475/female 499) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

20.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

11.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

15.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.43 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.07 years (2010 est.)

male

73.32 years

total population

75.64 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

98% (1970 est.)

male

99%

total population

98%

Median age

female

27.3 years (2010 est.)

male

28.8 years

total

28 years

Nationality

adjective

none

noun

none

Net migration rate

8.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

People - note

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

Population

23,528 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.491% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2005)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.047 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

92% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

geographic coordinates

21 28 N, 71 08 W

name

Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009, S.I. 2009/701 - effective 14 August 2009 - suspended Ministerial government, the House of Assembly, and the constitutional right to trial by jury, and imposed direct British rule

Country name

abbreviation

TCI

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Turks and Caicos Islands

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

under provisions of the Order in Council, the cabinet is suspended effective 14 August 2009 and replaced by an Advisory Council appointed by the governor (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch note: following an investigation into allegations of widespread corruption and misconduct within the Turks and Caicos Government, the UK foreign minister directed the governor to bring into effect on 14 August 2009 an Order in Council suspending Ministerial government and the House of Assembly, and imposing direct rule for a period of up to two years

head of government

Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 14 August 2009); note - the office of premier is suspended by the Order in Council, effective 14 August 2009

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 displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Legal system

based on laws of England and Wales with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Legislative branch

under provisions of the Order in Council, the unicameral House of Assembly is dissolved and all seats vacated for a period of up to two years; in the interim, a Consultative Forum, appointed by the governor, will be established

election results

under provisions of the Order in Council, all seats in the House of Assembly are vacated

elections

last held on 9 February 2007 (next to be held by July 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Conrad HOWELL note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)

name

"This Land of Ours"

National holiday

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Political parties and leaders

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

Electricity - consumption

11.16 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

12 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$169.2 million (2000)

Exports - commodities

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$216 million (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$175.6 million (2000)

Imports - commodities

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

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

note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

80 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

10% (1997 est.)

Broadcast media

while there are no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations broadcasting (2007)

Internet country code

.tc

Internet hosts

8,969 (2010)

Telephone system

domestic

full range of services available; GSM wireless service available

general assessment

fully digital system with international direct dialing

international

country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

3,700 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

25,100 (2004)

Airports

8 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales

Roadways

paved

24 km

total

121 km

unpaved

97 km (2003)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 5,062 females age 16-49: 4,772 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

223 (2010 est.)

male

229

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe page last updated on December 28, 2010 ======================================================================