2024 Edition Primary

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 in 2017.

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

20.4% (male 6,288/female 6,056)

15-64 years

73.2% (male 22,232/female 22,011)

65 years and over

6.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,869/female 1,983)

Birth rate

13 births/1,000 population (2024 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

3.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

13.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.1 years

male

78.5 years

total population

81.3 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

36.1 years

male

36.5 years

total

36.3 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

none

noun

none

Net migration rate

8.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

People - note

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

Physician density

NA

Population

female

30,050 (2024 est.)

male

30,389

total

60,439

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

1.77% (2024 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 (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2024 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 Dileeni Daniel-SELVARATNAM (since 29 June 2023)

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 - men 11, women 3, percentage women 27.3%

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

People's Democratic Movement or PDMProgressive National Party or PNP

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.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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 2016

$741.173 million (2016 est.)

Exports 2017

$602.581 million (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$826.824 million (2018 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

fertilizers, shellfish, plastics, sulfur, soybean oil (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Togo 61%, US 13%, Zimbabwe 6%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 3%, Central African Republic 2% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

0.4% (2016 est.)

industry

9.5% (2016 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

77.9% (2016 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.402 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2016

$438.041 million (2016 est.)

Imports 2017

$484.842 million (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$544.219 million (2018 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, furniture, aluminum structures (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 75%, Dominican Republic 6%, Italy 3%, Switzerland 2%, China 2% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

5.84% (2016 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$958.811 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.018 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.03 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

9.03% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$21,300 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$22,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$22,400 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

244,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

244,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

249.998 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

91,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

13 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

100%

electrification - total population

99.9% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

100%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

99.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2022 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

9 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VQ-T

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1, other 2

total

3 (2023)

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

22

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

Ports

key ports

Cockburn Harbor, Grand Turk, Providenciales

ports with oil terminals

1

size unknown

1

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

2

Roadways

paved

24 km

total

121 km

unpaved

97 km (2003)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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)