(dependent territory of the UK)
Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way
from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total : 260 sq km
land: 260 sq km
water : 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively
dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops : 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 69% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met
by rainwater catchment
Environment - international agreements:
party to : NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America
Population: 36,273 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years : 22% (male 3,836; female 4,156)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 12,335; female 12,929)
65 years and over: 8.3% (male 1,399; female 1,618) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.03% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 13.45 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US(2002 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:0.86 male(s)/female
under 15 years:0.92 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female
total population : 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population : 79.18 years
male: 76.38 years
female: 81.59 years (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective : Caymanian
Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: British crown colony
National capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)
head of government: W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections : none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; the governor is appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
6
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: there are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations; National Team [leader NA]; Democratic Alliance [leader NA]; Team Cayman [leader NA]; United Democratic Party [leader NA]
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy - overview: With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center; 28,000 foreign companies do business with the 600 registered banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded one million visitors in 1995 and again in 1996. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.18 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.5% (2000)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $30,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture : 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 2.3% (2000)
Labor force:
total: 19,820 (1995)
by occupation: agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 4.1% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures:$248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 71,000 kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 355 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 330.15 million kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Exports:
total value : $1.2 million (1999)
commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners : mostly US
Imports:
total value: $457.4 million (1999)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
Debt - external: $70 million (1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Telephones: 19,000 (1995)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 with cable system
Televisions: 7,000 (1997)
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 406 km
paved: 304 km
unpaved : 102 km
Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,034,181 GRT/3,191,597 DWT
ships by type : bulk 24, cargo 4, chemical tanker 34, container 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 40, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
note : includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Bahrain 2, China 1, Germany 4, Greece 27, Hong Kong 3, Italy 2, Japan 1, Norway 14, Sweden 13, United Kingdom 15, United States 35 (2002 est.)
Airports: 3 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m : 1 (2001)
Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money-laundering and drug transshipment
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