2023 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

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 (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

1.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

36.2% (2018 est.)

other

62.7% (2018 est.)

Location

two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti; note - although the Turks and Caicos Islands do not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically they are often designated as being Caribbean

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

20.7% (male 6,262/female 6,026)

15-64 years

73.24% (male 21,860/female 21,619)

65 years and over

6.06% (2023 est.) (male 1,741/female 1,859)

Birth rate

13.2 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

5.1% (2020 est.)

women married by age 18

23.3%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.4% (2019/20) NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

34.4% (2019/20)

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

59.1% (2023 est.)

Death rate

3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.9

potential support ratio

7.2 (2021)

total dependency ratio

36.8

youth dependency ratio

22.9

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 94.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 5.7% of population (2017)

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

14.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.9 years

male

78.3 years

total population

81 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

35.7 years

male

36.1 years

total

35.9 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

none

noun

none

Net migration rate

8.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

People - note

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

Physicians density

NA

Population

59,367 (2023 est.)

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

Population growth rate

1.81% (2023 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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 88% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 12% of population (2017)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

(2015) NA

male

NA

total

9 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.94 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

94.2% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

etymology

named after Sir Francis COCKBURN, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844

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

amendments

NA

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

embassy

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

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); 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 Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021)

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 court(s)

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 (21 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, and 2 ex-officio members; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PNP 14, PDM 1; composition as of mid-2022 (elected members) - men 12, women 3; percent of women 20%

elections

last held on 19 February 2021 (next to be held in 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Conrad HOWELL

name

"This Land of Ours"

note

note: serves as a local anthem; as an overseas territory of the UK, "God Save the King" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)

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 [Edwin ASTWOOD]Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Budget

expenditures

$224.3 million (2017 est.)

revenues

$247.3 million (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

$247.081 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

$35.016 million (2017 est.)

Current account balance 2018

$172.709 million (2018 est.)

Debt - external

NA

Economic overview

British Caribbean island territorial economy; GDP and its tourism industry hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions; major biodiversity locale; US dollar user; fossil fuel dependent; negative trade balance; increasing unemployment

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

Exports 2017

$603 million (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$827 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

plastic building materials, stone processing machinery, iron structures, crustaceans, integrated circuits (2019)

Exports - partners

France 31%, United States 16%, Zambia 13%, Singapore 9%, Republic of the Congo 8% (2019)

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 (official exchange rate)

$1.02 billion (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2017

$484.842 million (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$544.219 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, furniture, soybeans (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 76% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2021 est.)

Industries

tourism, offshore financial services

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

0.7% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

4% (2017 est.)

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

Population below poverty line

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$1.117 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$817.993 million (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$835.171 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

5.32% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-26.78% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

2.1% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$25,900 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$18,500 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$18,500 (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 1997

10% (1997 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

245,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

245,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

231.618 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

85,000 kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

12.5 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

0 Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

1,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

0 bbl/day (2021 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

Internet users

percent of population

93.5% (2022)

total

37,008 (2022)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is 9 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

is connected to the internet via a single submarine fiber-optic cable (Arcos-1), which links the US and several Caribbean countries (2023)

international

country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

4,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

110 (2004 est.)

total subscriptions

25,085 (2004 est.)

Airports

8 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

6

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VQ-T

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1, other 2

total

3 (2022)

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

22

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

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

none identified

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.22 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Land use

agricultural land

1.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

36.2% (2018 est.)

other

62.7% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

94.2% of total population (2023)