2019 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. Grand Turk island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria on 22 September 2017 resulting in loss of power and communications as well as damage to housing and businesses.

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

Highest Point

Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m

Lowest Point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment Current Issues

limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geographic Coordinates

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Geography Note

include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited

Irrigated Land

0 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

1.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

1.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

0% (2011 est.)

Forest

36.2% (2011 est.)

Other

62.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Population Distribution

eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Age Structure

0 14 Years

21.62% (male 5,916 /female 5,694)

15 24 Years

13.7% (male 3,657 /female 3,698)

25 54 Years

52.97% (male 14,316 /female 14,128)

55 64 Years

6.96% (male 1,988 /female 1,748)

65 Years And Over

4.76% (male 1,181 /female 1,375) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

14.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

3.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Education Expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2018)

Ethnic Groups

black 87.6%, white 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

7.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

83 years

Male

77.3 years

Total Population

80.1 years (2018 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major Urban Areas Population

5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)

Median Age

Female

33.5 years

Male

34.1 years

Total

33.8 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

none

Noun

none

Net Migration Rate

9.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

People Note

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US

Population

53,701 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.09% (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 72.8% (Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.)

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.99 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.14 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.86 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.02 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.7 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.77% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

93.4% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

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)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

History

several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)

Country Name

Abbreviation

TCI

Conventional Long Form

none

Conventional Short Form

Turks and Caicos Islands

Etymology

the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus (native to the islands and appearing on the flag and coat of arms), while the Caicos Islands derive from the native term "caya hico" meaning "string of 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

Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly

Chief Of State

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel DAKIN (since 15 July 2019)

Elections Appointments

the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor

Head Of Government

Premier Sharlene CARTWRIGHT-ROBINSON (since 20 December 2016); first female Premier of Turks and Caicos

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 Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges, as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges appointed by the governor in accordance with the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body of high-level judicial officials; Supreme Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment

Subordinate Courts

magistrates' courts

Legal System

mixed legal system of English common law and civil law

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 members in multi-seat constituencies and a single all-islands constituency directly elected by simple majority vote, 1 member nominated by the premier and appointed by the governor, 1 nominated by the opposition party leader and appointed by the governor, and 2 from the Turks and Caicos Islands Civic Society directly appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PDM 10, PNP 5; composition - men 15, women 6, percent of women 28.6%

Elections

last held on 15 December 2016 (next to be held in 2020)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Conrad HOWELL

Name

This Land of Ours

National Holiday

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June

National Symbol S

conch shell, Turk's cap cactus

Political Parties And Leaders

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sharlene CARTWRIGHT-ROBINSON] Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

224.3 million (2017 est.)

Revenues

247.3 million (2017 est.)

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 more than 1 million visitors that arrive annually. Three-quarters of the visitors come by ship. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

Exchange Rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

2008

$24.77 million

Exports Commodities

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

69.5% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

21.5% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

49% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-56.4% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

16.5% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

-0.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

0.5% (2017 est.)

Industry

8.9% (2017 est.)

Services

90.6% (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2007

$29,100

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2006

$568.3 million

2007

$632 million

GDP Real Growth Rate

2007

11.2%

Imports

2008

$591.3 million

Imports Commodities

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

Industrial Production Growth Rate

3% (2017 est.)

Industries

tourism, offshore financial services

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

0.7%

2017

4%

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

Unemployment Rate

1997

10%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

221,800 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

42.7% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

95.7% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

218.6 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

82,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

235 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

1,420 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

1,369 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadcast Media

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

Internet Country Code

.tc

Telephone System

Domestic

full range of services available; GSM wireless service available; (2018)

General Assessment

fully digital system with international direct dialing; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launches; regulatory development (2018)

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) (2015)

Airports

8 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

3 (2013)

2 438 To 3 047 M

1 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2013)

Total

6 (2013)

Under 914 M

1 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

Total

2 (2013)

Under 914 M

2 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

VQ-T (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 1, other 3 (2018)

Total

4

National Air Transport System

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

16 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales

Roadways

Paved

24 km (2003)

Total

121 km (2003)

Unpaved

97 km (2003)

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